Jury indicts Jefferson in bribery probe (edited)

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - Rep. William Jefferson (news, bio, voting record), 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.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070604/ap_on_go_co/congressman_probe

---

Indictment Sought Against Rep. Jefferson
FBI Probes Allegations Lawmaker Took Bribes to Promote Business Ventures

By Jerry Markon and Allan Lengel
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, June 4, 2007; 12:46 PM

Federal prosecutors are seeking an indictment today against Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.) in a longstanding FBI corruption probe centering on allegations that he took bribes to promote high-tech business ventures in Africa, sources familiar with the investigation said.

Prosecutors are presenting the case to grand jurors in Alexandria today, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because no charges have yet been filed.

If filed, the indictment would cap a long and tumultuous investigation that was stalled for months because of a legal battle over the constitutionality of an FBI raid on Jefferson's office last May. The raid came after the FBI found $90,000 in the freezer of his Capitol Hill home.

A political and legal maelstrom followed the raid, prompting President Bush to intervene and seal the seized documents for 45 days. In July, U.S. District Judge Thomas F. Hogan, who had signed the search warrant, ruled that the raid was constitutional. The U.S. Court of Appeals has yet to rule on the matter.

more:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/04/AR2007060400683.html

[Bitwit1234]

1. I think it is about time....this way if he is innocent, as he says, but

guilty as the government says and I think has evidence, then he should be asked to step down. No matter which party, we don't need crooks in congress.

[maddezmom]

3. well said

[spinbaby]

2. Has been indicted

According to CNN.

[sabra]

4. Sources: Rep. Jefferson to be indicted by federal grand jury

Source: CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) — A federal grand jury Monday is expected to indict Rep. William Jefferson, D-Louisiana, on more than a dozen charges stemming from an investigation into accusations of corruption, sources told CNN.

The indictment is expected to be handed up in an Alexandria, Virginia, courtroom later in the day, the sources said.

Jefferson has denied any wrongdoing. He has been accused of taking bribes on behalf of a telecommunications firm in Kentucky.

Federal prosecutors said $90,000 in cash was found in the congressman’s freezer during a search of his Washingon, D.C.-area home in August 2005.

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/06/04/sources-rep-jefferson-to-be-indicted-by-federal-grand-jury/

[ButterflyBlood]

5. Hopefully he'll resign

We don't need corrupt trash in our party, that's what the GOP is for.

[rodeodance]

6. Pelosi needs to force him out at this point

[Massachusetts]

36. Agreed! Dems have to Put up or Shut up on ethics.

[lonestarnot]

7. Kick the theif in the pants. No place for him in our government.

[kestrel91316]

8. He needs to go, if he did this. No room for corruption on EITHER side of

the aisle.

However, I predict that the MSM will obsess over this for months, and conveniently ignore the corruption by HUNDREDS of Republicans (where's that very long list again, that someone was compiling, of Republican arrests, charges, convictions, lawsuits, etc??).

[Psephos]

9. Sounds like a good time for him to switch parties n/t

[jaysunb]

10. Just in time to counter Scooter Libby, huh ?

Very clever....:evilfrown:

[polmaven]

11. Speaking of whom...

Isn't his sentencing hearing set for today?

[maddezmom]

12. tomorrow

:hi:

[jaysunb]

13. Tomorrow, tomorrow..is always a day

oops...I got carried away just thinking about : tomorrow, tomorrow.....:evilgrin:

[maddezmom]

14. I hope they release the letters tomorrow, too

:D

[jaysunb]

15. maybe by the close of business today...

maybe.

[THUNDER HANDS]

16. how did this guy win re-election?

Really....REALLy.....

[ButterflyBlood]

17. Basically race-baiting from what I hear

He basically attacked his opponent (who was also black) as being a tool of the white power structure that was unfairly levering these charges against himself, who was so pure and innocent. Bleh.

[brentspeak]

41. Then Jefferson's constituents who voted for him are pretty darn stupid

His opponent was an excellent candidate, too.

[sobanos]

43. As do those who voted for Bush-- not once, but TWICE!

They look far more stupid........

[Stinky The Clown]

18. Indictment Brought Against Rep. Jefferson

Source: CBS News

CBS News) 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 more than an inch thick and list 16 alleged violations of federal law that could keep Jefferson in prison for up to 200 years.

Sources told CBS News that authorities were seeking an indictment against Congressman William Jefferson, D-La., on more than a dozen counts involving public corruption.

Jefferson has been the subject of a ongoing probe in which FBI agents allegedly found more than $90,000 in cash in his freezer in August 2005.

Read more: http://cbs4.com/topstories/topstories_story_155132708.html

[Lerkfish]

19. and, was it brought by an administration-friendly USatty?

just curious

[partylessinOhio]

20. Bush/Cheney have done worse and they are still free to terrorize.

[Exiled in America]

22. That's really embarassing rationale.

If - and I say if - a Democrat is breaking the law, I don't want to fucking hear things like "well, what THEY do is worse" as if its some kind of justification.

I'd like to return to accountability for all, and the investigation of this alleged crime in NO WAY hindered Bush and Cheney being held responsible for their crimes - no plenty of other things were responsible for that.

[melody]

32. The problem is when you can't trust the USAtty's, how can we trust the case?

It may well be just as trumped up as charges brought in any banana republic.

Beyond which fact, I'm deeply suspicious of this due to his name and the sound byte
nature of current Pavlovian politics.

[ButterflyBlood]

46. Can you give me a valid reason for one to have $90k laying in their freezer?

There's also a video of him on tape accepting a bribe. The case is crystal clear.

[melody]

48. I wasn't suggesting there was one ... however crystal clarity is in the eye of the beholder

It was "obvious" that Oswald shot Kennedy, too.

If this administration was serious about justice and honesty, it wouldn't be in office in
the first place. So I'm skeptical.

[aquart]

33. Well, there's a standard to cling to. YECH!

How about we set an example? Show 'em what honor used to look like?

[Exiled in America]

21. Good. If there is compelling evidence then there should be a trial. I hate double standards.

What's good for "them" is good for "us" too.

If there's enough evidence, then he should go to trial. If its beyond reasonable doubt, he should suffer the consequences.

[MNDemNY]

24. No double standards? Then I assume

you agree that now that there is an indictment, he should resign, as many of us demanded of that ass from Texas who's name escapes me.

[Exiled in America]

28. Well I always think that, because:

To me, even though I know that there must be a presumption of innocence in an ideal world, I feel that an indictment of a congressman keeps him or her from effectively going about the business of the people. As our representatives, they have to be able to do their jobs effectively. The serve at our pleasure (or should). So resigning would be simply out of concern for what's best for the people.

I realize there are probably context sensitive realities that challenge this, but as a general principle I think it makes sense.

[kysrsoze]

35. No need to worry. Presumption of innocense is ONLY valid during presentation of evidence in trial

The presumption of guilt keeps people in jail pending trial (or requires them to post bond) and allows things like restraining orders to go through. An indictment is, in and of itself, a presumption of guilt, because a grand jury believes there is sufficient evidence pointing to the indictee's guilt.

[Exiled in America]

38. Yeah, thanks. That's a really good point that should be made more often.

[dbonds]

34. It is not an even system though.

The Dem side gets brought up on charges while the repug side gets a free pass on everything. It should be no corruption on either side, but finding someone not corrupt on the other side of the aisle is hard.

[Exiled in America]

39. The solution to that does not include deciding that its cool for our side to break the law.

The solution to that is to throw the bums out.

[ButterflyBlood]

47. 2 wrongs don't make a right

Corrupt Repukes don't excuse corrupt Dems. If he's guilty, and with the evidence I've got no doubt of it, then lock him away.

[panader0]

23. Two of his assistants were sentenced to 7 and 8 years

respectively. How much do you think Libby will get?

[MNDemNY]

25. None, Just a medal of freedom.

[Psephos]

49. He got 30 months, and no pardon is expected anytime soon n/t

[MidwestTransplant]

26. I can't believe this scumbag was even reelected. The people in his district are none too smart.

[partylessinOhio]

27. Bush was re-selected.

:hide:

[MidwestTransplant]

30. Bush wasn't busted with a freezer full of money.

[rayofreason]

29. This fellow...

...gives new meaning to the phrase "cold hard cash".

[GrantDem]

31. Walk the walk talk the talk...

Time for the Congressman to resign.

[Judge_Mental]

37. Kick him out now

Or pressure him to step down.

[jazzjunkysue]

40. Democratic congressman indicted in bribery probe

Source: Reuters

By James Vicini

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic Rep. William Jefferson was indicted on Monday on 16 criminal counts for conspiring to solicit bribes and pay off a Nigerian official, with $90,000 of an intended bribe found hidden in his home freezer wrapped in aluminum foil.

The 94-page indictment also charges the Louisiana lawmaker with racketeering, soliciting bribes for himself and his family, fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice, conspiracy and violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSWAT00765020070604?src=060407_14_DOUBLEFEATURE_

---

Crap. This is nasty.

[sobanos]

42. I'm Happy About This.

I’m definitely a liberal, and I tend to vote Democrat (NEVER Republican)--- and I’m HAPPY this guy has been indicted. The evidence supports it.

And therein lies the difference between most present-day Republicans/conservatives and their Democratic/liberal counterparts.

The bottom line is--- we should want ALL corrupt politicians to be held accountable for any bribe-taking, REGARDLESS of political party. I know I DO……………

It is pretty clear why Republicans aren’t interested in THAT though………….. deep down—they know that Republicans are gonna get screwed in that trade.

I mean-- I don’t think that anyone is saying that the Democratic party is “as pure as the driven snow” or anything…… it’s just that the degree of systemic corruption on the Republicans side is clearly SO much greater.

A Republican could bomb the house of an innocent civilian, and a lot of you Republicans would say a Democrat was equally as bad if he simply threw rocks at an innocent civilian's home.

Fact is-- the corruption LEVEL is NOT at all comparable.

It's like the difference between shooting a bullet and throwing one.

And--- in case the GOPer’s haven't figured it out--- the Republicans have far more crap hanging over their heads these days than Democrats do.

FAR MORE.......

[TupperHappy]

44. Agreed

If he did it, he needs to go.

[slackmaster]

45. A drained swamp exposes all alligators

Or something like that.

[Eugene]

50. AP: Judge freezes congressman's assets

Source: Associated Press

Judge freezes congressman's assets
The Associated Press

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- A federal judge Thursday froze the assets of Rep.
William Jefferson, the Louisiana Democrat who was indicted this week
on charges of soliciting bribes.

A forfeiture charge is among the 16 criminal counts Jefferson is facing.
Prosecutors have already said they will seek to recoup hundreds of
thousands of dollars from Jefferson that they believe he obtained illicitly
by peddling his influence to help broker business deals in Africa.

Jefferson is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in U.S. District Court.

The restraining order issued Thursday by U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III
lists two savings accounts with Dryades Savings Bank and Chevy Chase
Bank with a combined value of more than $470,000, plus certain
stock holdings that Jefferson is barred from liquidating.


Link: http://www.charlotte.com/118/story/151303.html