Tauzin is unnamed lawmaker in Jefferson indictment

[Bozita]

Source: The Hill

Tauzin is unnamed lawmaker in Jefferson indictment
By Kevin Bogardus

June 11, 2007

Former Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.) is the unnamed lawmaker mentioned in the Department of Justice's indictment of Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.), according to a document obtained by The Hill.

Last week, Jefferson was indicted by the Justice Department for allegedly soliciting bribes in order to wield influence on several companies’ behalf, including iGate Inc., a Louisville, Ky., telecommunications company. As part of his suspected influence-peddling, Jefferson convinced a previously unnamed lawmaker to write an October 2002 letter to iGate’s chief executive, Vernon Jackson, and speak highly of his company’s technology.

Tauzin is the member referenced in Jefferson’s indictment. A copy of his letter to iGate was obtained by The Hill.

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Read more: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/tauzin-is-unnamed-lawmaker-in-jefferson-indictment-2007-06-11.html

[Journeyman]

1. And Boehner's working hard to get the Jefferson issue in the news. . .

gotta resolve this immediately, he says (though he squashed ethics complaints against Republicans for his entire term). Wonder how he'll react now, given a Republican is implicated. . .

[Kagemusha]

5. What ethics complaint re: Rep. Jefferson? There isn't one.

I would really like to know what Boehner thinks "this" is that has to be resolved immediately and how Congress would go about that. Likely he has no answer and is just blowing smoke.

[Journeyman]

8. Boehner wants Jefferson expelled from the House. . .

and is pushing for a House Ethics probe. Here are a couple of articles that address Republican "concerns" . . .

http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/headlines/jefferson605

http://www.cqpolitics.com/2007/06/rep_jefferson_gives_up_sole_co.html
(this article addresses Boehner's desire for a House Ethics probe)

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/politics/story/D04BD848BCF0E8C6862572F2000ED61C?OpenDocument

[Kagemusha]

9. Shouldn't he like uh um file an actual ethics complaint then?

Or get one of the Republican members of the ethics committee to do so? I don't know the exact procedure, except that it MUST be founded on a complaint by a member of the House. (I learned that re: the Foley stuff.)

And if he wants Jefferson expelled without having even been found guilty of ethics violations let alone criminal ones, let him sponsor a resolution for it!

[Journeyman]

10. There you go again, using reason and Rules of Order in a post about Boehner. . .

But yes, you have a point. And so does Boehner (up under his hat), and if there's a chance for political theater I've never known an (R) to pass on it. Those guys have no one's interest other than their own in mind, ever.

[Supersedeas]

13. Political justice trumps complete justice with all Repigs

[Acadia Blue]

2. Billy Tauzin is a very corrupt pig and it would be good to see him

exposed. He took a job making millions after the F all of us in Louisiana by having the pharma that hired him; write the medicare bill. He is a disgusting horrible human being and has gotten away with so many things.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Recall hearing him say on tv, "I can't be bought. I can be rented, but I can't be bought."

I take it that was at attempt at humor. It seemed more like wishful thinking.

[Straight Shooter]

7. It wasn't even wishful thinking.

It was advertising.

[Bozita]

4. Those TV ads from Phrma.org? ... That's Billy Tauzin.

How about the one telling viewers to thank Congress for the wonderful Medicare Part D (prescription drug) bill.

[ellenfl]

6. yeah, i laugh every time i see that one. but people believe it. eom

[Ian David]

11. You shake a scandal hard enough, and a Repuke always falls out of it somewhere. n/t

[peacetalksforall]

12. So why was he unnamed until today? The reason would be obvious

if Repugs had the say - make DEMS look bad. But, how did Tauzin remain unnamed until now? How did they pull it off, assuming they manipulated.