Congressman Bill Jefferson (LA) to make "Major Announcement"

[funkybutt]

at 3.

http://www.wwltv.com/

No further info listed at this point.

[Greeby]

1. Methinks he's finished

In of itself, good riddance. But in the broader picture, you can just hear the RNC press release claiming all Democrats to be corrupt

:eyes:

[Pirate Smile]

2. Hopefully, he is resigning.

Dems resign before they're indicted. Republicans wait until afterward. What is up with that. Even Scooter waited. Why?

[LA lady]

3. Thanks!

Hadn't heard this, have a feeling it's not good.

[ps1074]

4. is this a safe dem seat?

eom

[LA lady]

6. 2nd district

5 of our 7 seats have gone Repuke.

I am in a different part of LA. If he has to withdraw, I think his area is pretty safe. Seems like he got about 80% of the vote in 2004. He is in New Orleans

[zulchzulu]

5. Jefferson was always in some kind of trouble....

I used to live in new Orleans and worked at WWL and it seemed that Jefferson was always being investigated for this and that, usually money issues or some odd levels of corruption...then again, most New Orleans politicians were in the same boat.

It was a fun town doing local news in terms of covering head-scratching layers of corruption, paybacks and nepotism.

[funkybutt]

7. *UPDATE*

"Congressman Bill Jefferson has denied any wrongdoing in the current investigation into alleged bribery."

not sure why that's a MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT! Gah!

[buff2]

11. He also said he was NOT going to resign

and that he didn't sell his office.

[Old and In the Way]

8. We've always had freelance corruption in our national politics.

Having individuals profiting in their position is nothing new. What is new is how it has been institutionalized in the Republican Party. In fact, I doubt any honest people with integrity would ever be welcome in today's Republican Syndicate.

[funkybutt]

9. Jefferson: I will NOT resign

http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWL051506tpjeff.44f16788.html

U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-New Orleans, said Monday he will not resign in the face of a federal investigation that has netted two guilty pleas from people who implicated him in a bribery scheme.

"I would take full responsibility for any crime that I committed, if that were the case. But I will not plead guilty to something I did not do, no matter how things are made to look and no matter the risk," Jefferson said, reading from a prepared statement.

[KamaAina]

10. In that case, someone better run against him

That would NOT necessarily open the seat up for a repuke, because of the runoff system (in the N.O. mayor's race, both candidates in the runoff Sat. are Dems, though Nagin's Dem credentials are somewhat dubious).

Another Dem with ethical standards (yes, there are some down there :P ) has a pretty good shot at this point -- but how do you run a campaign in the face of all that ill-gotten cash? :eyes:

[demidaws]

12. new orleans keeps falling

I am relatively new to this forum, but I have a comment due to my vested interest in this specific topic. I am a democratic New Orleanian and this just stings. I have not had a chance to vote for anyone else in this district....ever...and corruption has ALWAYS surrounded this politician. He is entrenched in a gerrymandered district of 80% minority and never had a serious dem challenger-white or black-due to his ongoing 8 terms. I know of one challenger thus far, Joe Lavigne , but I don't know his party affiliation. I went to his website for LA 2nd District Congress and the issues look strong, but most important he is a 'REFORMED' candidate (or should I say new) so I hope he is a dem...at least he looks like he may be. That is probably terrible to say as it would allude that I may solely vote on party lines, but I am DYING for A - ANY - ONE - candidate in my district from New Orleans with no corruption or even political history in their family. If I can get that I will be happy!

[jarab]

13. Welcome to DU !

...O...

[AlecBGreen]

14. welcome to DU demidaws!

:hi: :toast: :party:

[KamaAina]

15. Alas, Lavigne is a repuke

http://www.joelavigne.com/news_2.html

The GOP opponent of Rep. William Jefferson (D) called for the embattled lawmaker’s resignation Tuesday, as the latest news report indicated that a federal bribery case is escalating against the Louisiana Congressman.

Attorney Joe Lavigne (R), who is running in the 2nd district’s all-party November primary, issued a statement calling for Jefferson to “do the right thing” and step down and for a special election to be held as soon as possible to replace him.

Strange that Lavigne hasn't been peppering the world with press releases with all this going on (that one's from May). I personally know someone, who ran for the seat against "Jeff" 'way back in 1990, who'd be FAR superior: ethical, forward-thinking, and a Dem -- a bit of a centrist, but a Dem nonetheless.

[VegasWolf]

16. The clown says he will not resign. When pressed for an answer as to

why he had ninety thousand dollars in tupperware containers in his freezer, he said he is still thinking about an answer for that one. Throw all crooked congressmen in jail where they belong.