WaPo: Businessman Gets 7 Years for Bribing Legislator (Jefferson)

[Eugene]

Businessman Gets 7 Years for Bribing Legislator

By Allan Lengel
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, September 9, 2006; Page A08

Louisville businessman Vernon L. Jackson was sentenced yesterday to seven years
and three months in federal prison for bribing Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.)
with more than $400,000 and company stock to promote his Kentucky firm's
high-tech business ventures.

During sentencing, U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III in Alexandria told Jackson,
54, owner of iGate Inc., that he made a "very bad decision" that corrupted the
political process.

Jackson said nothing during the proceeding. His attorney, Michael S. Nachmanoff,
said he was pleased the judge gave a sentence that was at the low end of the
federal guideline.

Jackson is the second person to be sentenced in the 18-month public corruption
probe that has targeted Jefferson and cast a dark cloud over the eight-term
congressman's political future. Jefferson, 59, has not been charged and has
denied wrongdoing, but sources have said an indictment still appears imminent.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/08/AR2006090801324.html

Also: Jefferson's Defense Team Statement Regarding Vernon Jackson Sentencing - U.S. Newswire

[woodsprite]

1. Geez, we could get well over half of DC put away! n/t

[AlamoDemoc]

3. indeed,,,many forget who defeated Paul Finley and came about senator

[catnhatnh]

2. I call Horseshit...

if a crooked businessman (1 of our 250,000,00 citizens) gets over 7 years,then the pol who was complicit, and had a choice should be punished "pro rata"...the corrupt business man is nothing-one in a thousand-but one in 435 given trust betrayed it...so although I cannot express it well enough,for Jefferson actual life is NOT enough.

[NOLADEM]

4. Jefferson is scum

I hope he gets put away, Dem or not.

He commandeered National Guard resources during Katrina to take a boat and troop protection to check on his home and retrieve personal papers. He stopped to help NO ONE during his trip, and expressed no remorse that he took assets from people still on roof tops to retrieve personal documents (and perhaps evidence/cash from his freezer?).

He has shown only contempt for the prosecution, and has shown not a second of remorse for the Katrina incident or the hard cash in his freezer.

Dems, we can do better, and New Orleans NEEDS someone better because we are at such a crossroads for our city.

[eccles12]

5. They just weren't smart enough to call it "lobbying" like the Halliburton

crew does it.