Jefferson Pleads Not Guilty to Bribery

[kpete]

Jefferson Pleads Not Guilty to Bribery
By MATTHEW BARAKAT, Associated Press Writer

Friday, June 8, 2007


Rep. William Jefferson pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of soliciting more than $500,000 in bribes while using his office to broker business deals in Africa.


Jefferson, D-La., said he understood the charges during the federal court hearing. He was released on $100,000 unsecured bond.


"I am absolutely innocent of the charges that have been leveled against me," Jefferson said afterward. "I'm going to fight my heart out to clear my name."


As conditions for his release, U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III denied the congressman access to shotguns and rifles in his Louisiana home. Jefferson said the guns were used for hunting.


more at:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/06/08/national/a065728D19.DTL&feed=rss.news

[sabbat hunter]

1. based on the criminal charges

i believe that impeachment hearings need to proceed on him.

if he is so innocent what was he doing with all that cash in his freezer?

[chimpymustgo]

4. Why not have a trial? Let's hear the evidence and the defense before we jump on

this Justice Department's bandwagon.

[sabbat hunter]

7. that is what an impeachment hearing is for

they first decide if there is enough there to impeach which is the same as a grand jury bringing formal charges, then goes to the senate to convict.

we need to make sure that the democratic party is one that can say we are above reproach and do not tolerate things like this. we must show that we are better than the republican party and truly want to clean up washington. right now in general polls show that the country trusts congress about as much as it does *. taking a step like this towards impeachment I think will give us a great ace in the hole towards the 2008 elections.

[yodermon]

5. how does it work?

I thought the House can just vote to expel him, not sure if it's a simple or super majority.
No trial in the Senate.

[atreides1]

6. I disagree

Cunningham didn't resign until he took the plea agreement that he was offered, why should it be different for Jefferson? Even Traficant wasn't expelled until he was convicted, so the same standard
should be applied to Jefferson!

[gatorboy]

2. Heh!!

[originalpckelly]

3. "I'm sorry your honor, I have no idea how that $90,000 got there...

maybe it was immaculate appreciation?"

[MadBadger]

8. Has he come up with a defense for the 90K in the freezer yet?

Has he given a reason for it yet?

[last_texas_dem]

9. Apparently, he is saying he was set up

At least, if I'm understanding correctly...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1070302