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May 22, 2006
Noose Tightens Around William Jefferson's Neck
Congressman William Jefferson (D-LA) first attracted our attention last fall, when he diverted rescue efforts at the height of the Katrina crisis, apparently to remove incriminating documents and/or cash from his New Orleans mansion. He's back in the news, now that it has come to light that a search of his home in DC turned up $90,000 in cash hidden in a freezer.
Even though Rep. Jefferson had cleverly divided the loot among various frozen food containers, the authorities apparently kept looking until they got it all. Not that Jefferson isn't likely to have more hidden elsewhere. The cold hard cash was from a $100,000 payment received from an informant in a bribery probe, but that's chump change for a player like Jefferson. iGate CEO Vernon Jackson has pleaded guilty to paying the eight-term Congressman over $400,000 to grease government wheels for that company's high-tech ventures in Africa.
Despite having been caught with his whole arm in the cookie jar, Jefferson vows to remain in office. His New Orleans constituents would no doubt reelect him, though he might have to run from a federal prison.
The freezer money, which was actually discovered last August, came to light in an affidavit used to get a warrant to search Jefferson's office. His lawyer Robert Trout croaks that the affidavit serves "no legitimate investigative purpose."
You can't blame a guy named Trout for worrying about fishing expeditions; however, this is anything but. Investigators have evidence linking Jefferson to at least seven other cases where he "sought things of value in return for his performance of official acts," according to the affidavit.
Meanwhile, Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV), the ranking Dem on the House Ethics Committee, was recently forced to resign due to an FBI investigation into pork-barrel appropriations that he apparently used to divert nearly $6 million of our money into his own wallet.
Come again, Ms. Pelosi — what was that you said about a culture of corruption?
Posted by Van Helsing at May 22, 2006 11:44 AM
Comments
"Moving On Up" or maybe down,hard and fast.
Wasn't the main male character in that series named Jefferson?
Posted by: Eneils Bailey at May 22, 2006 11:54 AM
Hmmm, I bet they are going after him because he's black.
What? Why are you guys throwing stuff at me?
Posted by: Jason at May 22, 2006 12:27 PM
Baily, it was THE JEFFERSONS - Main Character George Jefferson who ran a chain of dry cleaners. Moving On Up was the theme song.
As far is this Jefferson clown, his name is hilarious in that it is 2/3 of Bill Clintons name - WILLIAM JEFFERSON Clinton - who probably has enough skeletons in his closet to fill the New Orleans Superdome.
Posted by: General Jack D. Ripper at May 22, 2006 12:35 PM
Jefferson just pocketed the money that was to be used to bribe foreign officials. You just can't trust anybody these days.
chsw10605
Posted by: chsw10605 at May 22, 2006 2:17 PM
my understanding is wj was gonna do a cable tv deal in nigeria.
thats what the $$$ for.
cable tv?
nagin?
win?
I heard they were cousins,by marriage.
Posted by: mickey at May 22, 2006 8:47 PM
