William Jefferson Must Be Expelled

[tritsofme]

Speaker Pelosi needs to make it clear that the Democratic Party does not stand for corruption and malfeasance, and that we hold the members of our caucus to the highest ethical standards.

When DeLay was indicted we all clamored for his resignation, and our overwhelming victory in November was probably due in no small part to the GOP leadership dragging its feet over DeLay and other corrupt members.

Pelosi needs to send a message that there is a new sheriff in town, and that its not just business as usual in Washington.

[Warren Stupidity]

1. Jefferson's case ought to get in line behind a few others.

For example Alberto Gonzales. For example the contempt of Ms Rice for subpoenas. For example the high crimes and misdemeanors of Cheney, Bush et al.

[tritsofme]

3. Let the corrupt Republicans twist slowly in the wind

In front of the nation's eyes, while Democrats send a message that corruption is not tolerated.

[Miss_Underestimated]

31. There is no refrigerator big enough to stash the

billions of dollars, the dead bodies, the good will of the world toward the US, the democratic principles that the US was founded on, the hearts and minds of US citizens and hopes for the American dream etc. etc. that have all been stolen from us by the neocons!! I wish we could better prioritize who gets prosecuted first according to the magnitude of crimes committed!

[Throwing Stones]

32. He should be at the front of the line of people pressured to resign, though

The repukes lack shame; dems shouldn't let there own sully our name the way Jefferson is - it's a federal freekin' indictment! Notwithstanding the partisanship of many DOJ investigations of late, no one should remain a representative while under a criminal indictment. At the very least, it's just effing bad form.

[Recursion]

36. Nope. Clean our own house first. He should be out next week

We need to show a clear difference between us and them.

[Kagemusha]

2. The excuse before was, he hasn't been indicted. Now he has.

Let's get on with it.

[wellstone dem]

7. agreed

We need to be leaders.

[BuyingThyme]

4. Who's this Pelosi character?

[KharmaTrain]

5. Further Isolate Him...The CBC Is Protecting Him

Democrats just can't kick someone out of Congress...only the voters can. They can censure or just isolate a bad apple...which the Democrats have been trying to do since this scandal broke. It's the CBC that has stood up for Jefferson based on the lack of an indictment...now that it's been handed down, let's see what they say. If there's pressure to be applied it belongs on this group.

[tritsofme]

6. Trafficant was expelled several years ago when he refused to resign

More than anything, Pelosi needs to send a message, you can't run a campaign on cleaning up Washington from a "culture of corruption" and then turn around and shelter your own corruption members.

Expulsion, Censure, Reprimand, and Fine: Legislative Discipline in the House of Representatives

Summary

The House of Representatives is expressly authorized within the United
States Constitution (Article I, Section 5, clause 2) to discipline or “punish” its own
Members. This authority of the institution of the House to discipline a Member for
“disorderly Behaviour” is in addition to any criminal or civil liability that a Member
of the House may incur for particular misconduct, and is a device or procedure
designed not so much as merely a punishment of the individual Member, but rather
ultimately as a measure to protect the institutional integrity of the House of
Representatives, its proceedings and its reputation.

Congressional discipline of a Member by the House of Representatives is done
by the House itself, without the necessity of Senate concurrence, and may take several
forms. The most common forms of discipline in the House are now “expulsion,”
“censure,” or “reprimand,” although the House may also discipline its Members in
others ways, including fine or monetary restitution, loss of seniority, and suspension
or loss of certain privileges. In addition to such sanctions imposed by the full House
of Representatives, the standing committee in the House dealing with ethics and
official conduct matters, the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, is
authorized by House Rules to issue a formal Committee reproach in the form of a
"Letter of Reproval" for misconduct which does not rise to the level of consideration
or sanction by the entire House of Representatives. Additionally, such Committee has
also expressed its disapproval of conduct in informal letters and communications to
Members.

The House may generally discipline its Members for violations of statutory law,
including crimes; for violations of internal congressional rules; or for any conduct
which the House of Representatives finds has reflected discredit upon the institution.
Thus, each House of Congress has disciplined its own Members for conduct which
has not necessarily violated any specific rule or law, but which was found to breach
its privileges, demonstrate contempt for the institution, or which was found to
discredit the House or Senate. When the most severe sanction of expulsion has been
employed in the House, however, the conduct has historically involved either
disloyalty to the United States Government, or the violation of a criminal law
involving the abuse of one's official position, such as bribery.

http://www.rules.house.gov/archives/rl31382.pdf

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. Traficant was expelled after he was CONVICTED

[tritsofme]

10. So why should we wait?

And let the Republicans kick this story around for months (years?) depending on how long the trial takes?

[Freddie Stubbs]

20. I'm not arguing with you, just citing precedent

Frankly, I think they should have expelled him when they found the money in the freezer.

The only problem with expelling him before he is convicted is that he could run for the vacant seat. Don't think that the voters of his district are dumb enough to send him back to DC? They reelected him last year after the money was found in the freezer.

[KharmaTrain]

19. He Wasn't Forced To Resign His Seat....

He didn't leave until he was convicted...

http://archives.cnn.com/2002/LAW/04/11/traficant.trial/index.html

Traficant kept his head down as the jury's decision was read. He then said flatly, "I accept your verdict."

He will remain free on bond until his sentencing on June 27. He faces a total of up to 63 years in prison on all charges if sentenced consecutively, though U.S. District Judge Lesley Wells is not expected to order consecutive sentences.

He also faces possible expulsion from the House of Representatives. After the verdict, the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct announced it would meet to consider initiating disciplinary proceedings against Traficant, though it did not say when.

House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, D-Missouri, issued a statement saying a member of Congress who breaks the law and commits bribery "strikes at the heart of representative government." He advised Traficant to step down from office.

Traficant was expelled from committee assingments and the caucus, but he could still vote and did. He eventually left AFTER his conviction...Jefferson has been indicted, not convicted. But then DeLay did step down to "fight his indictment", and Foley still hasn't been charged (to my knowledge). Nay and Cunningham held their seats until they were convicted. None of these people were expelled from the House by their colleuges. The last person I think they tried this on was Adam Clayton Powell Jr. in the late 60's.

Again, it's the Congressional Black Caucus that has been defending Jefferson...including helping him win re-election last year, depsite efforts from many of us here and New Orleaneans to vote him out. The power of the vote should be respected here...and so should the rarely observed concept of "innocent until proven guilty".

[tritsofme]

23. Traficant was expelled in 2002, he refused to resign

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/legislative/house/2002-07-24-traficant_x.htm

[KharmaTrain]

27. Then He Wasn't Expelled

He was expelled from the Democratic Caucus. My bets are Jefferson will get the same treatment in the days and weeks ahead if he chooses not to resign.

He was expelled AFTER his CONVICTION...not after his INDICTMENT.

[hogwyld]

9. He hasn't been convicted

Only indictied. Innocent until proven guilty etc. I don't know all of the sordid details, but he is a fellow Dem, and he should have his day in court

[tritsofme]

11. Tom DeLay, innocent until proven guilty

yada yada yada.

If anything we should hold Democrats to a higher standard than the crew of crony Republicans.

[Blue_In_AK]

33. He'll get his day in court

but that doesn't mean he should still hold his position as a lawmaker. He should step aside, clear his name if he can through the legal process, and then run again if he feels like it.

[Recursion]

37. Yep, and on that day he shouldn't be in Congress anymore

This isn't about due process or jeopardy, this is about the public's right to full and complete confidence in their government. Even if there's an innocent explanation for the bribe money in the freezer he should step down and concentrate on his court defense.

My right to know I can trust Congress is infinitely more important than his right to keep a cushy Congressional job.

[deadmessengers]

12. No.

However, he needs to be temporarily stripped of every committee assignment he has. He should have no power in the Congress whatsoever until the resolution of his case.

Democrats MUST hold themselves to a higher standard than the Ney/DeLay/Cunningham crowd did.

[cascadiance]

17. Yes, they NEED to clamp down on him. I'm tired of the "equal opportunity" corruption claims...

... by the freepers! I've been seeing this from a number of them today!

All it takes is one guy like Jefferson, even if he's being more targeted for prosecution by the USA's under Gonzo than Republicans are, to get all of the freepers out there saying "See, the Democrats are corrupt too!" Fair and balanced they say now, even if FAR more Rethugs are corrupt than they are.

I hear them also say we should go after Feinstein too. I'm not a big fan of Feinstein either, but this "equal opportunity" quest for justice that is conditioned in them by Limbaugh and Fox News needs to be shut down.

I'm tempted to say that perhaps there are TONS more white people that need to be prosecuted now, with all of the black people in prison now on a much higher per capita basis than white people. If they really want to get into "equal opportunity" justice they should be asked why more white people aren't in jail. If they say that black people commit crimes, then we'll say "Touche! You get it. More Republicans commit crimes! We should be putting more of them away!" (and that is likely more the truth than the former anyway!)

[deadmessengers]

18. What did Feinstein do?

Or, should I say, what is she being accused of? I haven't heard anything about it.

[cascadiance]

22. Ever since she stepped down from a committee earlier...

... the freeper radar has really gone up and accused her of hiding something.

Here's an example of one of the wingnut's articles on this subject. She very likely might have "done some favors" for her husband since it was the Military Appropriations Committee and he owns a company that could have benefitted from it. I'd never been a big fan of DiFi, but I think at this stage, she still deserves the benefit of the doubt until someone has something more concrete. Certainly when compared to all of the Republicans that are being "overlooked" now (Duncan Hunter, Jerry Lewis, Doolittle, etc. here just in SoCal!).

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54932

[Ioo]

13. Boot him now, We should hold public officials to higher standard

The whole inecent until proven guilty is fine to keep you out of jail, but I think we should ask for a higher standard for our politicians.

So you are hight, he is not guilty of a crime yet, but he is guilty of something...

[Ilsa]

14. Send him on his way, IMO. nt

[BlooInBloo]

15. Just make sure you expel him, and not Conyers by mistake.

[Mojambo]

16. It should happen as fast as is reasonably possible

The best option would be for the "distinguished" congressman to resign, but I doubt that'll happen.

The Democrats are probably stuck with an isolation and ignore situation until the inevitable conviction.

[uberllama42]

21. The Dems don't stand for corruption and malfeasance?

When did that happen? In my experience, Democrats are just as apt to lie and steal as Republicans. It would be refreshing if, after the extraordinary, even professional level of malfeasance practiced by the Bush Administration, all of the rhetoric about ending the culture of corruption actually came true.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that Pelosi and the upper tier of the party are going to close ranks around Jefferson in proud, American, Good-Old-Boy fasion. May I be proven wrong.

[KittyWampus]

28. did you vote for Nader? "Democrats are justas apt to lie and steal as Republicans"

what a load of self-loathing crap, if you are a Democrat.

[uberllama42]

30. I wasn't old enough to vote in 2000 or 2004

I don't really consider myself a Democrat, though I may change my registration so I can vote for Dennis Kucinich in the primary. I have to call it as I see it, and from the evidence I've seen the Democrats don't exhibit any more integrity than Republicans. The current administration is extraordinarily criminal, but that doesn't give previous administrations (or Democrats in Congress) a pass.

Rather than loathing the Democrats, the party with whom I agree, I hold them to a higher moral standard than the Republicans. Anything less is childish hypocrisy.

In truth, Washington has always had a culture of corruption, and so far I have yet to see what Nancy Pelosi is doing to change that.

[Beelzebud]

24. Look at the new boss, same as the old boss.

[Blue-Jay]

25. Allow me to be the first to recommend this thread.

I don't care who he is or to which party he belongs. If it is proven that he has engaged in illegal activities, then he need to be kicked out of the House, and serve the appropriate amount of time in jail.

Period.

[Greeby]

26. I remember Governor Dean saying straight up

That Jefferson should resign if he's indicted. Well, now to follow-through

[Perky]

29. You can't expel him without a conviction

The Ethics commitee does not have the balls or the staff to investigate Jefferson with the desire to impose the death penalty . If a court convicts him fine.. but if a court finds him not guilty. You just dienfranchised a district and angered an important constiruency in a rush to jusgement

Tell him he must resignif the evidence is solid. But expelling him is a non-starter

[RB TexLa]

34. I didn't know indictments from Gonzo's justice department carried such weight with DU'ers

The man hasn't been convicted of anything and has been elected to a two year term by the voters of his district.

[MonkeyFunk]

35. I disagree

he should resign.

But if he doesn't, he should be stripped of all committee assignments. But I'm uncomfortable with an indictment alone forcing an expulsion.