William Jefferson (D-LA) was officially indicted today on numerous counts. According to AP:
U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-Louisiana, 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 Monday in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, 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.
Jefferson, of course, is the man who was found with $90,000 in cold, hard, marked bills in his freezer. He was barely re-elected last November and, although the speaker of the House tried to place him on important committees, she was rebuffed.
You may recall that the Dems were going to be big on ethics issues. It seems that is not to be the case and this is just the tip of the iceberg. They're getting shadier with earmarks so that the public is kept in the dark, high-profile leaders of the party are in a new scandal weekly and Nancy Pelosi (who has her own ethics issues it seems) has not pushed through any successful ethics legislation, a cornerstone of what the donks ran on.
I guess we shouldn't expect much on the ethics side when one of the most outspoken and respected members of the Democrat party is Rep. John Murtha who was an unindicted co-conspirator in the Abscam scandal and two senior senators -- Edward Kennedy and Robert Byrd -- were involved in their own shady issues at one time or another.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. Ok so when is someone from the Justice Dept.make their way over to the white house and pass out some indictments for war crimes, lying to congress, election fraud, several other crimes then and only then will have any serious clout. The name says it all THE JUST-US DEPT. I think we should fire all of the Congress,Senate and start over. We should only pay them a base salary and requirments should be limited to poor and middle class that has proven how to save a dollar.
dmarco1970 at 4:10PM on Jun 4th 2007
2. "We look forward to the time when the power of love will replace the love of power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace." ~W. Gladstone
M F Cole at 4:56PM on Jun 4th 2007
3. Sad commentary on the quality of persons in Co'ngress; bribery, sexual misconduct, bribery, bribery , bribery. Oh that's right, when it's not ourright bribery they call it political contributions from PACs and others.
Bruce at 4:29PM on Jun 4th 2007
4. Gook old Louisiana Politics, It's
about time
Jerry Talley at 5:17PM on Jun 4th 2007
5. Why should any person holding a political post be given plea bargain he knew what he was doing and he is suppose to represent the people who elected him into office, he should as far as I am concerned should get the maximum sentence. To many persons are gettting off with pleae bargins is going on and besides he will not go to a regular prison,
Jerry Hill at 5:25PM on Jun 4th 2007
6. I wish someone had the guts to throw these jerks in to the hoosgow Until they nlearn who they are working for, Amen
Joey at 5:50PM on Jun 4th 2007
7. Before we rush to judgment, lets all remember that an indictment is not a guilty verdict. You can indict a ham sandwish in our country. Lets all wait on the facts. Congressman Jefferson is Black and is therefore guilty until he can prove himself innocent. He would best be served if his explanation was so clear and plausible that a 8 year old can understand it and an 80 year old would believe it. If not, he should get his Vaseline, and keep it close.
Hank Melton at 6:02PM on Jun 4th 2007
8. Alleluia, when are our men and women who are chosen to power, learn to be just and upright citizens to the deserving citizens they serve?
Eula at 6:00PM on Jun 4th 2007
9.
Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., was indicted Monday in a long-running bribery investigation into business deals he tried to broker in Africa.
These guys are yelling 'Not fair! Feds over stepped their bounds,’ hogwash or rather bull----. I don't have any defense if the FBI wants to come into my home other then the standard warrant. Congress already makes me sick what with their lifetime medical and retirement benefits. They should all croak a year after leaving office.
ConcordBP at 6:26PM on Jun 4th 2007
10. Although Rep. Jefferson is considered innocent until proven guilty, I would just like to say that corruption can and does befall both parties, and evidently all races. My hope is that we get all of the money out of politics and then the polititions can represent the people (all people) of america and not just the people in their favorite community, family, political party, friends. Someone needs to come up with a way to kick them all out. I congradulate the Justice Department, they need to keep this up until they clean out Washington.
pearl at 6:11PM on Jun 4th 2007
11. I can't believe it took them 2 years to indict him!! He's guilty as a beadbug. They have him on video taking a 100,000 bribe with marked 100 dollar bills, raided his house later and found 90,000 marked bills in his freezer. They didn't arrest him because he's black......they didn't because he's a congressman!!!! Those guys are above the law.
Pedro at 6:19PM on Jun 4th 2007
12. This could become a bi-partisan issue. I'm sure both parties would want ethics training and accountability among their members.
Steve Bonomo at 6:17PM on Jun 4th 2007
13. Sad,sad,sad when the requirements for jury selection are stricter than the requirements for election to the "patriots" who make the laws.
lstepnblue2 at 6:27PM on Jun 4th 2007
14. This is a shame. It really makes you think twice about the officials that WE elect. With so many issues going on with La, one would think that there would be other issues that we here about like..the return residency rate of the state is greater than expected...not things like the ones we are constantly hearing.
Terrence at 6:47PM on Jun 4th 2007
15. I don't understand why it took so long to indict him.
Maybe they were just overwelmed with evidence. Note, there is no room for the race card here. Just someone that finally got caught.
Terry Belvin at 11:25PM on Jun 4th 2007