FBI Searches Office of Louisiana Congressman - Page 2 - Big Big Forums

Jolie Rouge · 12-11-2006, 12:45 AM

Democrat Rep. William "Cold Cash" Jefferson cruised to victory yesterday, winning re-election to his ninth term in Congress. Looks like the race card paid off.

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Jefferson swarms back to win re-election

Confounding political pundits and a slew of rivals who had become confident of his defeat, U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-New Orleans, neatly sidestepped a roiling federal corruption probe to win re-election on Saturday to his ninth term in Congress.

Guilty pleas by aides and associates who admitted to bribing the congressman and the revelation in court documents that FBI agents had found $90,000 in marked bills stuffed into Jefferson's freezer had put the scent of blood in political waters.

A field of a dozen candidates began circling Jefferson in the primary. He
finished first, but with only 30 percent of the vote, inspiring conjecture that his performance amounted to repudiation of an incumbent and that he would surely lose the runoff against state Rep. Karen Carter, D-New Orleans.

Instead, Jefferson, 59, scored a dramatic upset by racking up huge pluralities in African African-dominated precincts in Orleans, and winning outright in Jefferson Parish, where Sheriff Harry Lee had spent his campaign.

The final margin for Jefferson in Jefferson Parish was 71% to 39% - a margin that can be attributed to Sheriff Lee's furious political assault in the closing days of the campaign. Lee not only endorsed to Jefferson, but in the final days, urged Jefferson Parish residents to stay home and not vote. The final tally shows that while 28% of registered voters cast ballots in the primary, only 15% voted Saturday.

Jefferson's victory was even more confounding because the Second Congressional District race was missing all the advantages that usually come
with incumbency. Carter had the edge in funding raising, including from business interests that had backed Jefferson in the past. Most of the high-profile endorsements - including those by two former Louisiana senators - went to her, as well.

Jefferson seemed to have secured his upset victory not in public debates or
increasingly vicious ad campaigns but in grassroots campaign efforts that carried him to dozens of African-American churches, and, although he isn't a
drinker, to many a Second District bar.

Despite the surprise win, Jefferson's problems are far from over. The federal corruption probe, which began on March 15, 2005, continues, and the congressman has all but said he anticipates an indictment.

NOLA.com: Everything New Orleans

[i]( word I heard out of NO was that Lee was threatening people if they didn't stay home ... ) [i]

The New York Times thinks Dems will keep Jefferson at arm's length: Jefferson Weathers Scandal, Wins Re-election in Louisiana - New York Times

It is unlikely that the House Democratic leadership will look more kindly on Jefferson, despite his re-election; Republicans, seeking to offset some of the damage their own party incurred in the 2006 elections because of a series of ethics controversies, are likely to hammer the Democrats over Jefferson’s re-election. But the House may be constrained in investigating Jefferson’s behavior because of the potential for interfering with the probe being conducted by federal prosecutors.

Jolie Rouge · 02-13-2007, 07:16 PM

Congressman, business associate sued in offshoot of bribery probe
By BRETT BARROUQUERE - Associated Press Writer

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- A former stockholder in a technology company sued a beleaguered congressman and a former business associate Tuesday, claiming they bilked stockholders by using business funds to pay bribes.

The lawsuit alleges that U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., his wife, and Vernon Jackson, former chief executive of the telecommunications firm iGate, schemed to funnel money to Jefferson, his family and foreign officials.

The allegations mirror those in an ongoing federal investigation of Jefferson and his business dealings. Jefferson has not been charged, but the FBI has said in court records that agents found $90,000 in a freezer in his New Orleans home.

As part of that investigation, Jackson, 54, of Louisville, pleaded guilty to paying more than $400,000 in bribes to Jefferson to gain the congressman's help in obtaining business deals in Africa. Jackson was sentenced to seven years in federal prison and is scheduled to report to prison in March.

Jefferson has denied wrongdoing. Messages left Tuesday for his lawyer, Robert Trout, were not immediately returned. Jackson could not be located for comment Tuesday.

iGate stockholder Daniel C. Cadle of Newton Falls, Ohio, filed the suit in U.S. District Court in Louisville. Cadle is seeking unspecified damages on behalf of all iGate stockholders.

iGate, which was based in Louisville, no longer has an office, its phone number is not working and its Web site has been taken down.

Cadle's attorney, Mason Miller of Lexington, said Cadle was one of iGate's largest stockholders, with 327,500 shares. Cadle didn't know about Jackson's alleged dealings with Jefferson until the criminal probe became public, Miller said.

"He still hasn't gotten a lot of answers about where his money has gone," Miller said. "I don't think he thought this is where it was heading."

Jackson paid cash and stocks with a value of $400,000 to $1 million to a company controlled by Jefferson's family, according to court records. Jackson said in court the payments were bribes. Jackson admitted to paying roughly $360,000 over a four-year period to a company controlled by the congressman's wife, Andrea Jefferson, in exchange for Jefferson's help promoting iGate technology in Africa. Jackson also gave the company a 24 percent stake in iGate and paid $80,000 toward travel expenses for the congressman's trips to Africa to promote iGate.

The lawsuit said Jackson was introduced in 2000 to Jefferson, who agreed to help iGate receive a government certification making it eligible to obtain federal contracts. The congressman's assistance helped iGate receive a contract at Fort Stewart, Ga.

In early 2001, the congressman allegedly told Jackson he would have to make regular payments if he wanted further business assistance, the lawsuit said. Jackson said he agreed, and as a result the congressman agreed to use his office to assist iGate's business efforts in Africa, according to the suit. As part of that deal, Jackson secretly agreed to pay Andrea Jefferson's company, ANJ, $7,500 a month, plus 5 percent of gross sales over $5 million per year, according to the lawsuit.

The deal also required Jackson to give ANJ one million shares of iGate stock, according to the lawsuit.

Cadle said the deals between Jackson and Jefferson were never approved by stockholders and hurt the value of iGate stock.

A former aide to Jefferson, Brett Pfeffer, was sentenced to eight years in prison after admitting he helped broker some of the bribes allegedly paid to Jefferson.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...MPLATE=DEFAULT

Jolie Rouge · 02-16-2007, 06:18 PM

Rep. Jefferson Gets Seat on Homeland Security

Rep. William Jefferson, the Louisiana Democrat who's facing an ongoing federal corruption probe, is being granted a spot on the Homeland Security Committee, according to Democratic aides.

The appointment will be announced Friday, according to one aide who requested anonymity because the decision isn't yet official.

Jefferson was removed from his seat on the Ways and Means Committee, one of the most important panels in Congress, by Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) last summer in an attempt to show how seriously Democrats viewed the allegations of corruption.

But the move by Pelosi, who was still minority leader at the time, infuriated members of the Congressional Black Caucus, who said Jefferson shouldn't be punished unless he is indicted; federal prosecutors have yet to bring an indictment, despite an FBI raid 18 months ago on his home that yielded $90,000 in cash in his freezer.

Other lawmakers were angling for the seat on Homeland Security, which was the last slot available on the panel, according to another Democratic aide.

The committee oversees the Homeland Security Department and its web of agencies designed to protect against terrorism on U.S. soil.

The committee has oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which was widely panned for its response to Hurricane Katrina in Jefferson's hometown of New Orleans.

As a member of the committee, Jefferson will not have direct oversight of the FBI or the Justice Department.

A former Jefferson aide has already pleaded guilty to corruption in the ongoing investigation, as has a businessman who alleged in his plea agreement that he bribed Jefferson in order to win contracts with African nations.

When most committee assignments were given out two months ago, Jefferson was assigned a spot on the Small Business Committee, generally considered one of the least sought after panels.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/capit...nd_securi.html

Let's see, the Feds try Scooter Libby for 'lying' (a non- crime that wasn't committed); yet William "Cold Cash" Jefferson is free to run amok. I'll wager that if any of us plebes had 90K in unreported income in cold storage the IRS at the very least would be knocking down our door....

Five words: "Most ethical Congress in history"

Jolie Rouge · 02-16-2007, 06:22 PM

Jefferson to Get Seat on Homeland Security Committee
By Greg Tinti on February 15, 2007 at 10:56 PM

After being videotaped accepting a $100,000 cash bribe by the FBI and busted with $90,000 worth of loot in his freezer, Democratic Congressman William Jefferson--currently facing an ongoing federal corruption probe--is being awarded a seat on the House Homeland Security Committee.

The appointment will be announced Friday, according to one aide who requested anonymity because the decision isn't yet official.

[...]

Other lawmakers were angling for the seat on Homeland Security, which was the last slot available on the panel, according to another Democratic aide.

The committee oversees the Homeland Security Department and its web of agencies designed to protect against terrorism on U.S. soil.

The committee has oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which was widely panned for its response to Hurricane Katrina in Jefferson's hometown of New Orleans.

As a member of the committee, Jefferson will not have direct oversight of the FBI or the Justice Department.

A former Jefferson aide has already pleaded guilty to corruption in the ongoing investigation, as has a businessman who alleged in his plea agreement that he bribed Jefferson in order to win contracts with African nations.

The most honest, ethical, and open Congress in history indeed!

Update: Congressional Quarterly has confirmed Paul Kane's scoop linked above.

Eight months after stripping Rep. William J. Jefferson of his seat on the Ways and Means Committee, Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to award the embattled lawmaker with a spot on the Homeland Security panel.

The move, confirmed by a top Democratic leadership aide and expected to take place Friday, is aimed at giving Jefferson, D-La., a greater opportunity to help the people in his district, particularly those still recovering in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

And what about Jefferson's current legal situation? Well, it seems that the Democrats are planning to give him the seat on the committee and deal with any legal issues that arise later--and as the aide quoted in this piece seems to hint, that's more likely an issue of 'when' than 'if.'

Jefferson’s current status, however, may only last as long as the federal investigation remains unfinished.

Federal authorities are now trying to gain final custody of documents seized in a raid on Jefferson’s congressional office last spring. The materials are under seal, awaiting the outcome of Jefferson’s legal challenge to the seizure.

Asked how the Democratic leadership might handle a possible Jefferson indictment, the leadership aide said: “We’ll deal with that when — or if — that occurs.”

http://www.thepoliticalpitbull.com/2...t_on_homel.php

Jolie Rouge · 02-17-2007, 12:41 AM

Feb 16, 3:11 PM EST

Republican blasts security slot for Democratic congressman
By DEVLIN BARRETT - Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who stripped embattled Rep. William Jefferson of his seat on a powerful tax committee last year, is expected to appoint him to the Homeland Security panel, infuriating some Republicans who charge he may be a security risk.

Jefferson, a Louisiana Democrat, was kicked off the Ways and Means Committee amid a federal bribery probe, yet still won re-election to a ninth term.

Pelosi is giving him a seat on the panel after Jefferson was outspoken in his criticism of the homeland security agencies that responded to Hurricane Katrina.

That was not good enough for the top Republican on the committee, Rep. Peter King.

"It sends a terrible message," said King, R-N.Y. "They couldn't trust him to write tax policy, so why should he be given access to our nation's top secrets or making policy for national defense?"

"Members of the committee have access to intelligence secrets, plots here in the country, overseas, and people under suspicion. This shows how unimportant the Democrats think homeland security is," King said.

Aides to Jefferson confirmed the appointment but declined to comment on the criticism.

Representing New Orleans and some of its suburbs, Jefferson, 59, is the subject of a federal investigation into whether he accepted bribes related to a telecommunications deal in Africa. The FBI's evidence against him includes $90,000 found in his freezer - fodder for late-night talk show jokes - but not funny to Pelosi, who had promised to run the most ethical Congress in history.

Pelosi stripped Jefferson of his seat on the Ways and Means Committee over objections from some members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Meanwhile, the FBI's raid of Jefferson's congressional office ran afoul of lawmakers; Pelosi and then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert succeeded in having the seized material sealed, where it remains pending the outcome of Jefferson's legal challenge.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...MPLATE=DEFAULT

Jolie Rouge · 03-01-2007, 05:58 PM

Republicans Set to Block Jefferson’s Appointment to Homeland Security Panel
By: Patrick O'Connor
February 28, 2007 05:48 PM EST

Republicans plan to force a floor vote on Rep. William Jefferson's move to the Homeland Security Committee in an unprecedented maneuver to force Democrats to go on the record supporting their embattled colleague who is the target of a federal bribery investigation.

House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) pledged to call for a recorded vote on the House floor when Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) introduces a resolution to make the Jefferson move official.

Pelosi removed Jefferson from the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee in response to Justice Department allegations that the Louisiana Democrat had accepted $100,000 in bribes and stored $90,000 of them in his freezer. The speaker then gave Jefferson a seat on the Homeland Security, and Democrats agreed to the change in a closed-door caucus in February. "The idea that Homeland Security is less important than the tax-writing committee is ludicrous," Blunt said Wednesday.

And House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) urged Democrats to reconsider "this baffling and troubling decision.''

[i]"The Democrats previously determined Congressman Jefferson is unfit to serve on the Ways & Means Committee, which oversees the nation's finances and trade,'' Boehner said, "so it is difficult to comprehend how they can approve of Congressman Jefferson's fitness for a seat on the Homeland Security Committee, with access to America's most sensitive and closely-guarded intelligence information.''[i]

Jefferson, though, appeared unfazed. According to several witnesses, he sat on the dais at a subcommittee hearing Wednesday about the progress on overhauling the Federal Emergency Management Agency, even though his committee post had not been officially approved by the House.

Asked about Jefferson on CNN’s Larry King Live Tuesday, the speaker said Homeland Security was a good spot for him because his New Orleans congressional district was decimated by Hurricane Katrina.

It is extremely rare for either party to block the other's committee assignments. Most, in fact, are usually approved on the floor by unanimous consent. But Republicans are confident they can block Jefferson's committee assignment with the help of Democrats who would be reluctant to support him.

Democrats, on the other hand, cautioned Republicans against advancing the story line too far because of their own members who have been convicted of federal charges, as well as others still under investigation.

"Republicans who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones," suggested a Democratic leadership aide. "A number of Republican members are under investigation, but no Republican has suggested they are a security risk. The fact of the matter is every member of Congress can attend classified briefings by the Bush administration and have access to some of our nation's top secrets."

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0207/2938.html

Jolie Rouge · 03-01-2007, 05:59 PM

House Republicans will attempt to block Jefferson's assignment
By Susan Crabtree and Jackie Kucinich

House Republicans plan to break recent precedent and attempt to block a resolution appointing Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) to a spot on the Homeland Security Committee when it comes to the floor for a vote, Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) indicated today.

Blunt blasted Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for her endorsement of Jefferson for the Homeland Security Committee, calling the selection "ludicrous."

"I won't support that - it's such a contradiction of what the Speaker said," Blunt told reporters, referring to Pelosi's promise to run the most ethical Congress in history.

The FBI found $90,000 in cash in Jefferson's freezer when they raided his home last year as part of an investigation into whether he accepted bribes related to a telecommunications deal in Africa. Although the FBI probe is ongoing and the congressman has not been indicted, the ethics cloud hanging over Jefferson's head has caused headaches for Pelosi.

Pelosi stripped Jefferson of his seat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee last year. That move angered members of the Congressional Black Caucus, who argued that Jefferson had not been indicted or found guilty of any crime and that ousting him from the tax-writing panel created an unfair precedent. Despite the demotion and the ongoing FBI investigation, Jefferson was reelected in November, leaving Pelosi in a quandary about how to handle his committee assignments.

Before the recess, Pelosi announced that Jefferson would be placed on the Homeland Security panel. Jefferson's district includes New Orleans, and he has been an outspoken critic of homeland security agencies' response to Hurricane Katrina.

In an interview with CNN's Larry King, which aired Tuesday night, Pelosi said that after learning about the $90,000 Jefferson stashed in his freezer, she stripped him of his Ways and Means seat. "What I said to my colleague is, you have $90,000 in your freezer, whatever the explanation, you have a problem with me," she told King.

Pelosi then said she named Jefferson to the Homeland Security panel because it has jurisdiction over his storm-ravaged district and because the tax-writing panel deals with some of the business and financial issues involved in the allegations against him while the Homeland Security Committee does not. "But Mr. Jefferson's district has been New Orleans, greatly affected by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. And the committee of jurisdiction there, Homeland Security, is an appropriate place for him to be," she said. "But I removed him from the Ways and Means Committee, [which] had something to do with the accusations made against him. Homeland Security does not."

Jefferson's nomination to the panel likely will come to the floor as part of a slate of new committee assignments. Usually, nominations are non-controversial and are approved by unanimous consent, but Blunt indicated that Republicans plan to call for a recorded vote on Jefferson's committee assignment, a move that would force members to approve or disapprove of his selection for the panel.

In his comments to reporters Wednesday morning, Blunt acknowledged that as the minority party, there was little Republicans could do to stop Jefferson's installment on the panel. Indeed, if Jefferson's nomination comes as part of an entire slate of committee assignments, Republicans would be forced to call for a vote on all of them, which would be more difficult for members to vote down.

Initial discussions on whether to attempt to block Jefferson's appointment to the panel were fluid as of last night. On Wednesday morning House GOP leaders decided to move forward with the plans as a way to highlight what they view as Democrats' inconsistencies on ethics.

Republicans such as Rep. Pete King (N.Y.), the ranking Republican on the Homeland Security panel, as well as Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), have charged that Jefferson, who is under FBI investigation for bribery, could be a security risk on the panel. "They couldn't trust him to write tax policy, so why should he be given access to our nation's top secrets or making policy on national defense?" King told the Associated Press.

Democratic leaders are firing back by noting that Jefferson's legal status - under investigation, but not charged - is similar to that of several Republicans. "I worked to make that happen," House Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said of Jefferson's assignment. "These are only allegations. There haven't been charges. A lot of us are wondering if there will ever be any charges. How many allegations and investigations are going on of Republicans who haven't left any committees?"

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said that "there wasn't any question" in the Democratic Caucus that Jefferson would be put on the Homeland Security committee.

One Democratic aide also noted that all members get classified briefings, including the several Republicans who are under FBI investigation. "Republicans who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones," the staffer said. "A number of Republican members are under investigation, but no Republican has suggested they are a security risk. The fact of the matter is every member of Congress can attend classified briefings by the Bush administration and have access to some of our nation's top secrets."

House Republicans and Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), specifically, have come under fire for elevating Rep. Gary Miller (R-Calif.), who is under FBI investigation for several questionable land deals, to the ranking member position of the Financial Services subcommittee on oversight and investigations. Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.), the ranking member of that panel, made the decision to promote Miller to that post, but Boehner did nothing to prevent it.

Boehner also has told his GOP colleagues that he has discussed the FBI investigation and allegations against Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.), the ranking member of the Appropriations panel, and believes the precept of innocent until proven guilty should prevail in his case. Lewis is under investigation for his close ties to a lobbying firm that received millions of dollars in earmarks.

Rep. John Doolitle (R-Calif.), who is under investigation as part of the larger FBI investigation and prosecution of former lobbyist Jack Abramoff and also steered earmarks to a businessman who recently was indicted in the bribery case against former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.), decided to step down from his GOP leadership position after a bruising election that he won by just three percentage points.

Opposing a committee assignment on the floor has not happened in recent congressional history, according to Fred Beuttler, the deputy House historian. For most of this century, most committee assignments have been left to GOP and Democratic steering committees to decide.

The only challenge to committee assignments on the floor occurred only once in the last 100 years, on Jan. 11, 1912, when Rep. George Norris (R-Neb.) objected to the Democratic Speaker's slate of candidates to fill seats on the Rules Committee. Norris wanted to fill them with progressive Republicans instead, but his substitute bill aimed at doing so was defeated.

Mike Soraghan contributed to this report.

http://www.thehill.com/thehill/expor...efferson2.html

Jolie Rouge · 06-04-2007, 04:22 PM

Jury Indicts Jefferson in Bribery Probe
Jun 4 02:02 PM US/Eastern
By LARA JAKES JORDAN -- Associated Press Writer

The indictment handed up in federal court in Alexandria., Va., Monday is more than an inch thick and list 16 alleged violations of federal law that could keep Jefferson in prison for up to 200 years.

This is a breaking news update. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP)—An indictment charging Rep. William Jefferson, D- La., in a long-running bribery investigation is being announced Monday, federal officials said.

The indictment is being handed up in U.S. District Court in Alexandria. A press conference was being organized for late Monday in Washington to discuss the case.

A Justice Department official familiar with the case said the indictment outlining the evidence against Jefferson is more than an inch thick and charges the congressman with crimes that could keep him in prison for up to 200 years. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case.

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.

In May 2006, the FBI raided Jefferson's congressional office, the first such raid on a sitting congressman's Capitol office. That move sparked a constitutional debate over whether the executive branch stepped over its boundary.

The legality of the raid is still being argued on appeal. House leaders objected to the search saying it was an unconstitutional intrusion on the lawmaking process. The FBI said the raid was necessary because Jefferson and his legal team had failed to respond to requests for documents.

Some but not all the documents seized in the raid have been turned over Justice Department prosecutors.

__

Associated Press writer Cain Burdeau in New Orleans contributed to this report.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...show_article=1

Jolie Rouge · 06-04-2007, 05:14 PM

Jefferson indicted in bribery probe
By LARA JAKES JORDAN, Associated Press Writer
3 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., was indicted Monday on federal charges of racketeering, money-laundering and soliciting more than $400,000 in bribes in a long-running investigation into business deals he tried to broker in Africa.

The indictment in federal court in Alexandria, Va., lists 16 alleged violations of federal law with prison terms totaling as much as 235 years. Jefferson is charged with racketeering, soliciting bribes, wire fraud, money-laundering, obstruction of justice and conspiracy.

He is the first sitting congressman to face charges under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits corporate bribery overseas. Jefferson is accused of soliciting bribes for himself and his family, and also for bribing a Nigerian official. The scheme was complicated and Jefferson set up a front company to hide the money, prosecutors said.

"But the essence of the charges are really very simple: Mr. Jefferson corruptly traded on his good office and on the Congress," said Chuck Rosenberg, the U.S. attorney for eastern Virginia.

Almost two years ago, in August 2005, investigators raided Jefferson's home in Washington and found $90,000 in cash stuffed in a box in his freezer.

The 63-year-old Jefferson, 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 investigation.

Joseph Persichini, who leads FBI's Washington field office, called on the public to "take the time, read this charging document line by line, scheme by scheme, count by count. This case is about greed, power and arrogance."

Jefferson, in New Orleans on Monday, could not immediately be reached for comment. His lawyer was planning an afternoon news conference.

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.

The impact of the case has stretched across continents and even roiled presidential politics in Nigeria. According to court records, Jefferson told associates 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. He ran for the presidency and finished third.

The indictment does not name Abubakar. But it describes Jefferson's dealings with an unnamed "Nigerian Official A" who was a high-ranking official in Nigeria's executive branch who had a spouse in Potomac, Md. One of Abubakar's wives lived in that Washington suburb.

Court records indicate Jefferson was videotaped taking a $100,000 cash bribe from an FBI informant. Most of that money later turned up in the freezer in Jefferson's home.

In May 2006, the FBI raided Jefferson's congressional office, the first such raid on a congressman's Capitol office. That move sparked a constitutional debate over whether the executive branch stepped over a boundary.

The raid's legality is still being argued on appeal. House leaders objected to the search, saying it was an unconstitutional intrusion on the lawmaking process. The FBI said the raid was necessary because Jefferson and his legal team had failed to respond to requests for documents.

Some but not all the documents seized in the raid have been turned over Justice Department prosecutors.

Associated Press writers Cain Burdeau in New Orleans and Matthew Barakat in McLean, Va., contributed to this report.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070604/...Gh1BLV9xOs0NUE

Jolie Rouge · 06-05-2007, 12:25 AM

[b]Rep. Jefferson indicted in bribery probe By LARA JAKES JORDAN and MATTHEW BARAKAT, Associated Press Writers
6 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Louisiana congressman William Jefferson (news, bio, voting record) received more than $500,000 in bribes and sought millions more in nearly a dozen separate schemes to enrich himself by using his office to broker business deals in Africa, according to a federal indictment Monday.

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The charges came almost two years after investigators raided Jefferson's home in Washington and found $90,000 in cash stuffed in his freezer.

The indictment lists 16 counts, including racketeering, soliciting bribes, wire fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice and conspiracy. He faces a possible maximum sentence of 235 years.

He is the first U.S. official to face charges under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits corporate bribery overseas.

Jefferson, through his lawyer, claimed innocence. He will be arraigned Friday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria.

The schemes were complicated and Jefferson set up front companies to hide the money and disburse it to family members, prosecutors said.

"But the essence of the charges are really very simple: Mr. Jefferson corruptly traded on his good office and on the Congress," said Chuck Rosenberg, the U.S. attorney in Alexandria.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record) is expected to push this week for Jefferson to be stripped of his seat on the Small Business Committee, according to a leadership aide who spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision had not yet been announced.

"If these charges are proven true, they constitute an egregious and unacceptable abuse of public trust and power," said Pelosi, D-Calif. "Democrats are committed to upholding a high ethical standard and eliminating corruption and unethical behavior from the Congress."

House Republican Leader John Boehner (news, bio, voting record) of Ohio said Jefferson should be expelled from Congress if he is found guilty and refuses to resign.

Jefferson, 60, whose congressional district includes New Orleans, has said little about the case publicly. He was re-elected last year despite the investigation.

His lawyer, Robert Trout, on Monday called the indictment "lengthy and creative" and accused prosecutors of "trying to create an offense."

"Even after they turned over every rock, they did not allege in this indictment that (Jefferson) promised anybody any legislation. There is no suggestion that he promised anyone any appropriations. There were no earmarks. There were no government contracts," Trout said during a news conference in Los Angeles.

Trout also said Jefferson has no intention of seeking a plea bargain. "He's obviously not happy about being indicted, but he's confident that when the facts are known he will be vindicated," Trout said about his client. "He is committed, he is confident and he is ready to fight."

Two of Jefferson's associates have 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.

The impact of the case has stretched across continents and even roiled presidential politics in Nigeria. According to court records, Jefferson told associates 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. He ran for the presidency and finished third.

In Lagos, Nigeria, Abubakar spokesman Garba Shehu said the former vice president "has always denied wrongdoing in the matter."

"He has only had official interaction with the congressman, who the vice president felt deserved a hearing because he was a ranking member of the U.S. Congress," Shehu said. "The vice president was in no way cited in this thing, so we feel vindicated."

While Abubakar is not cited by name, the indictment refers to "Nigerian Official A," a high-ranking official in Nigeria's executive branch who had a spouse in Potomac, Md. One of Abubakar's wives, Jennifer Douglas, lived in that Washington suburb. A search warrant for the Potomac home, combined with the indictment, makes clear that Abubakar is the unnamed Nigerian official.

As co-chair of a congressional caucus dedicated to African investment and trade, Jefferson was ideally positioned to influence business contracts with African governments. The indictment said Jefferson would meet with African officials and write official letters on behalf of businesses that agreed to provide kickbacks.

Court records indicate Jefferson was videotaped taking a $100,000 cash bribe from an

FBI informant who felt the congressman and another businessman had bilked her out of millions. Most of that money later turned up in the freezer in Jefferson's home.

In May 2006, the FBI raided Jefferson's congressional office, the first such raid on a congressman's Capitol office. That move sparked a constitutional debate over whether the executive branch had stepped over a boundary.

The raid's legality is still being argued on appeal. House leaders objected to the search, saying it was an unconstitutional intrusion on the lawmaking process. The FBI said the raid was necessary because Jefferson and his legal team had failed to respond to requests for documents.

Some but not all the documents seized in the raid have been turned over Justice Department prosecutors.

Assistant Attorney General Alice Fisher said the documents helped bring the case against Jefferson. "Some of those documents that we were able to obtain through the process have indeed supported the charges that are presented today," Fisher said.

___

Associated Press writers Michael Blood in Los Angeles, Laurie Kellman in Washington and Edward Harris in Lagos, Nigeria, contributed to this report.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070605/...BOOLv5q2yyFz4D

Congressman William Jefferson Indicted on 16 Counts
June 4, 2007 05:52 PM CDT

It's a stunning description of fraud, money-laundering, theft and even a bribe offer in a congressional dining room. We're referring to the long-awaited formal indictment Monday afternoon against Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson. It's an indictment of such magnitude that it makes the infamous stories of money stuffed in Congressman Jefferson's freezer seem minor by comparison. Congressman William Jefferson's problems began more than two years ago when FBI agents raided his Washington home and seized $90,000 in cash from his freezer. Monday, Jefferson was indicted on racketeering charges and becomes the first sitting congressman charged under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act regarding business deals he allegedly brokered in Nigeria.

Mayor Ray Nagin says, "Well, you know, it's disappointing and I wish he and the family the best. Uh, it's something that the legal system just has to take its course." The indictment handed down in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia is 94 pages long. It lists 16 alleged violations of federal law that could keep Jefferson in prison for up to 235 years. Senator Diana Bajoie says, "Certainly, I'm gonna support his family. And the congressman and I are very dear friends of mine. He'll be in my prayers and hopefully will give the justice system a chance to work and it will work."

Jefferson's daughter, Jalila Jefferson-Bullock was in her state House of Representatives chair on the day the indictment was handed down. She refused any requests for media interviews, at times putting her hand up when the cameras were focused on her. Meanwhile, statewide, elected officials say this indeed puts another black eye on the state's image. Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu says, "One of the things that I try to do is go around telling about the good things that are happening to get the positive news, but anytime something like this happens, it eclipses it. That makes it a little bit more difficult."

Jefferson's attorney, Robert Trout says he plans to fight the indictment. He says there are two sides to every story. We sent Jalila Jefferson-Bullock a note from a legislative page requesting an interview. She glanced at the request and promptly threw it in the trash can.

http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=6608495

Reports even have writen outlines for bribes on Congressional letterhead...

Jolie Rouge · 06-05-2007, 01:32 AM

Indicted lawmaker always fond of cash
By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer
Mon Jun 4, 8:07 PM ET

WASHINGTON - The $90,000 the FBI says it found in Rep. William Jefferson's freezer wasn't the death knell of his political career.

The Louisiana Democrat still cruised to his ninth House term last year, propelled by hugs and kisses on the campaign trail from supporters who distinguished him from other politicians in only one respect: He got caught.

"Don't mess with Jeff," read Jefferson's campaign pins.

The FBI did just that. So have leaders of the congressman's own party. They stripped him of a seat on the tax-writing House Ways and Committee a year ago after the FBI staged a controversial Saturday night raid of his office. Later, his colleagues put him on the Small Business Committee, but they're expected to try to oust him from that seat later in the week.

Federal investigators on Monday announced Jefferson's indictment after a two-year investigation. Rather than producing little, as Jefferson had suggested, the probe came up with a 16-count indictment on racketeering and bribery charges that could put him in prison the rest of his life.

Dapper and calm throughout the investigation, Jefferson, 60, maintains his innocence, his lawyer, Robert Trout, said Monday.

The charges put a kink in the arc of a political career that began in rural Louisiana, ran through Harvard law school, took Jefferson to New Orleans and put him at the helm of what became the largest black-owned law practice in the South. In 1990, he became the first black elected to a Louisiana congressional seat since Reconstruction.

Jefferson's tangled legislative and business dealings dogged him from the beginning of his career. In the 1970s, a mayoral candidate dubbed the young politician "Dollar Bill" Jefferson — a nickname inspired by stubborn questions about the future congressman's fondness for cash.

The nickname stuck as questions continued popping up about Jefferson's financial matters, including a loan default and a lawsuit for poor maintenance of his extensive real estate holdings. Jefferson also overdrew his congressional office's bank account. He was criticized when his law firm took lucrative contracts from his alma mater, Southern University, and the Louisiana attorney general's office while he served in the state Senate. No punitive action was taken.

Beginning from his family's three-bedroom house on a cotton farm in rural northern Louisiana, Jefferson's political career was a steady progression. The sixth of 10 children in a devoutly Baptist family, he was a high school class president before attending Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge.

According to a profile in the Times-Picayune of New Orleans, he loves to tell the story of his mother's reaction when he informed her of his plan to attend Harvard University's law school. She'd never heard of it, but she gave her blessing after discovering that John F. Kennedy had gone there.

Jefferson married college girlfriend Andrea Green in 1970; the pair went on to have five daughters, three of whom followed their father to Harvard and the legal profession, according to Jefferson's Web site. One of them, Jalila Jefferson-Bullock, is a member of the Louisiana House.

William Jefferson rose fast in Louisiana political circles. He was elected to three terms in the Louisiana Senate, served in the Judge Advocate General's Corps and became an aide to Democratic Sen. J. Bennett Johnston.

According to the FBI's affidavit, he accepted $100,000 in cash two years ago from an FBI information in a scheme to bribe Nigerian telecommunications officials. The FBI found most of that money in Jefferson's freezer.

One of two associates who pleaded guilty to bribery-related charges admitted paying more than $400,000 to a phony company headed by Jefferson's wife and family in exchange for favors from the congressman.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070605/...l2XedWD1myFz4D

Quote:

The Louisiana Democrat still cruised to his ninth House term last year, propelled by hugs and kisses on the campaign trail from supporters who distinguished him from other politicians in only one respect:

I really feel compelled to point out that the way things played out, he was in the running against Mitch Landriue ( brother to Sen Mary Landriue and heir to the Moriel Political Legacy ) which put many people in the mind of the Edwards/Duke election ... damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Many in this area vote stricly along Party lines... if they are a Democrat, they would vote for Osama Bin Laden if that is who the Party were to put on the ticket ... it is insane.....