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Itsdb |
06/04/07 |
Another setback in the Dems pledge to end corruption in congress...
Grand jury indicts Rep. Jefferson in bribery investigation
WASHINGTON - Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., was indicted Monday on federal charges of racketeering, soliciting bribes and money-laundering in a long-running bribery investigation into business deals he tried to broker in Africa.
The indictment handed up in federal court in Alexandria., Va., Monday is 94 pages long and lists 16 alleged violations of federal law that could keep Jefferson in prison for up to 235 years, according to a Justice Department official who has seen the document.
Among the charges listed in the indictment, said the official, are racketeering, soliciting bribes, wire fraud, money-laundering, obstruction of justice, conspiracy and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case.
Jefferson is accused of soliciting bribes for himself and his family, and also for bribing a Nigerian official.
Almost two years ago, in August 2005, investigators raided Jefferson’s home in Louisiana and found $90,000 in cash stuffed into a box in his freezer.
Jefferson, 63, whose Louisiana district includes New Orleans, has said little about the case publicly but has maintained his innocence. He was re-elected last year despite the looming investigation.
Jefferson, in Louisiana on Monday, could not immediately be reached for comment.
Two of Jefferson’s associates have already struck plea bargains with prosecutors and have been sentenced.
Brett Pfeffer, a former congressional aide, admitted soliciting bribes on Jefferson’s behalf and was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Another Jefferson associate, Louisville, Ky., telecommunications executive Vernon Jackson, pleaded guilty to paying between $400,000 and $1 million in bribes to Jefferson in exchange for his assistance securing business deals in Nigeria and other African nations. Jackson was sentenced to more than seven years in prison.
Both Pfeffer and Jackson agreed to cooperate in the case against Jefferson in exchanges for their pleas.
The impact of the case has stretched across continents and even roiled presidential politics in Nigeria. According to court records, Jefferson told associates that he needed cash to pay bribes to the country’s vice president, Atiku Abubakar.
Abubakar denied the allegations, which figured prominently in that country’s presidential elections in April. Abubakar ran for the presidency and finished third.
Court records indicate that Jefferson was videotape taking a $100,000 cash bribe from an FBI informant. Most of that money later turned up in a freezer in Jefferson’s home.
Well so what? It was just Bush overstepping boundaries again by conducting this raid in the first place, right? Maybe the Dems have contributed to ending the "culture of corruption" after all, since they no longer have "a taxpayer-subsidized sanctuary for crime."
Comments? |
Clarification/Follow-up by Itsdb on 06/05/07 5:13 pm:
The media apologists are out now, too:
Jefferson indicted; New Orleans recovery suffers more bad news
NEW ORLEANS -- The corruption indictment Monday against U.S. Rep. William Jefferson dealt another setback to a city struggling to recover from the economic and political devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
The investigation surrounding Jefferson had crippled his position as a champion for the city long before the 16-count indictment was handed down in Virginia.
In late 2006, he handily defeated a field of challengers. His re-election hammered the image of a state that already had a poor reputation for political integrity and was still coping with memories of the chaos that followed Katrina. Analysts said his re-election hurt national sympathies for New Orleans.
After his re-election, Democratic congressional leaders gave Jefferson new committee assignments. The postings were a step down from the seat stripped from him on the powerful Ways and Means Committee.
Now, analysts predict Jefferson's troubles will add more burdens to the recovery of the region, where ineffective rebuilding plans, rising insurance rates, political bickering and insecurity over the city's long-term viability have taken a toll.
"With all the problems we have, that's the last thing we need, more bad publicity," said Bernie Pinsonat, a Louisiana political pollster.
Well, they still have Nagin and Blanco...
Clarification/Follow-up by tomder55 on 06/05/07 6:24 pm:
set back ? it is arguably the best news that has come out of N.O. in a long time. They have shown an impulse to bring back the scoundrels no matter how corrupt they are .Maybe the legal system needs to cull the herd . Clarification/Follow-up by Itsdb on 06/05/07 6:28 pm:
Apparently they need someone to cull the herd if their hopes were pinned on Jefferson.
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