Rep William Jefferson will be a major embarrassment for Dem Majority.....

[Blackhatjack]

The evidence against William Jefferson is astonishing.

July 30, 2005-He was videotaped by the FBI receiving $100,000 worth of 100-dollar bills in a leather briefcase at a Ritz-Carlton hotel in Arlington, VA, from a cooperating witness to bribe a Nigerian public official.

August 1, 2005-He met with the cooperating witness and told her he delivered the money to the Nigerian official, and that the Nigerian offical was very appreciative.

August 3, 2005-Search warrant was executed at Jefferson's Washington, D.C. home, where $90,000 of the cash was wrapped in aluminum foil and stuffed inside frozen food containers in his freezer. Serial numbers on the bills matched those of the money previously delivered to him by the cooperatin witness. FBI received $4800 of money with matching serial numbers from a Jefferson staffer who received it from Jefferson as a loan, and received $4900 from one of Jefferson's attorneys.

January 11, 2006-Jefferson aide Brett Pfeffer pled guilty to conspiracy and aiding and abetting bribery of a public official related to same matter.

May 3, 2006-Vernon Jackson, CEO of IGate, pled guilty to bribery of a public official and conspiracy to bribe a public official, related to the same matter.

May 20, 2006-Jefferson's congressional office searched pursuant to a search warrant.

May 21, 2006-Speaker Hastert and Pelosi file motion demanding immediate release of the documents seized in the warrant.

May 25, 2006-Bush orders all seized materials to be sealed for 45 days.

May 30, 2006-Rep Sensebrenner hold hearings called "Reckless Justice: Did the Saturday Night Raid of Congress Trample the Constitution?"

July 10, 2006-Chief Judge Hogan ruled the FBI search of Jefferson's congressional office was legal.

July 26, 2006-Ct of Appeals rules that Rep Jefferson must first be allowed to review documents and present those he deems important to his work as a legislator pursuant to the Speech or Debate Clause to Judge Hogan for review.

Clearly the Republicans came to Jefferson's immediate defense with a view toward future searches that might be conducted as a result of Govt/Congressional investigations in the future. You can bet they will raise the same arguments when Republicans are in the crosshairs. Pay close attention to Bush's participation in this matter.

In the meantime, there can be no doubt that Jefferson is in big trouble, will likely have to resign his seat in Congress, and his recent reelection, will all serve to bring discredit to Democrats now in control of the House of Representatives.

[Ignacio Upton]

1. I can't believe people in his district re-elected him?!

n/t.

[originalpckelly]

4. Well, they thought "the man" was trying to frame Jefferson...

I know because I've had discussions with idiot who supported this corrupt asshole. They thought his opponent was being supported by the "whites". I think that's just as racist as saying Jefferson was being supported by the "blacks". Good LORD! Why the fuck does it matter? Why should race play into any person's choice as a political candidate?

[BOSSHOG]

22. Actually

Whites in the suburbs "supported" Jefferson, thinking that he will be indicted and have to resign. They then would have an opportunity to get their hand chosen one in the office. The sububanites did not want that seat going to uppity Karen Carter, who would most likely hold onto it for a long time. Desperate measure but so far the plan is working. If Dollar Bill does resign there should be one battle royale for his seat pitching the burbanites against the city dwellers.

[originalpckelly]

23. AHAHAHAHA! "Dollar Bill"

You have just made me literally spray water everywhere!

:rofl: :spray:

Bad! I almost choked! :spank:

[BOSSHOG]

26. Actually (#2)

Dollar Bill is a term of endearment for the honorable Congressman Jefferson in some parts of his district.

[Clark2008]

35. Is 50-cent his son?

:rofl:

[BOSSHOG]

36. "They" are twins

[CatWoman]

41. LOLOLOLOLOLOL

:rofl:

[unpossibles]

2. so ... one corrupt Dem means big trouble, but many corrupt Rethugs

is business as usual?

[Blackhatjack]

19. The comparison of Dems to Repubs is erroneous....

... If Dems are going to investigate and expose massive Republican corruption, it is important that they hold themselves out as being equally tough on everyone where the evidence is overwhelming. It is an extension of the concept that we adhere to the rule of law.

One corrupt Congressman is one too many, regardless of political affiliation.

However, there are going to be lots of Republicans facing the same kind of scrutiny.

[unpossibles]

43. oh, I agree one is too many

I was just trying to express how POd it makes me that the huge list of Repub corruption gets glossed over by the MSM/pundits (if mentioned at all), yet this guy will most likely be brought up frequently.

[RB TexLa]

3. And he has not be charged with any crime, and even if he is, he is

presumed innocent. Sounds like you don't think there should even be a trial, even before any charges have been brought.

[originalpckelly]

5. Yes, poor Jefferson was being framed by the man...

the man made him take that $100,000 bribe.

:eyes:

[BuyingThyme]

6. Which part sounded like that?

[RB TexLa]

11. "will likely have to resign his seat in Congress"

someone not charged with anything, doesn't have to resign their seat. Unless the writer has skipped being indited and tried and moved to conviction without those things.

[BuyingThyme]

16. I think it's reasonable to assume that Congressmen who apparently

store huge amounts of bribe cash in their freezers will likely have to resign.

[RB TexLa]

20. I think Bill Jefferson should stay till the moment armed people come to remove him

from Congress.

[BuyingThyme]

24. I think he should do what any decent adult would do.

But he's apparently a childish criminal, so it hasn't happened.

[Blackhatjack]

25. You are right about one thing....

... if Jefferson is never charged after all this evidence was compiled against him, then I am sure he will not resign his seat.

But ask yourself if you feel better about your government having this kind of evidence and never bringing charges against the individual? Putting the stop to a legitimate investigation and preventing charges from being brought where warranted is just another form of corruption.

[Blackhatjack]

15. On the contrary, I have over 12 years experience defending, not prosecuting .....

.... I believe every defendant is entitled to a trial IF HE WANTS ONE. And at that trial, the Judge and Jury has the duty to view him in a manner consistent with being 'presumed innocent.'

The best advice I can give such a defendant is a clear and experienced view of the evidence against them, what the likelihood of success at trial will be, and my recommendation as to which of several alternatives would be in his best interests. THis allows the defendant to make an INFORMED decision, and the decision whether to go to trial always rests with the defendant.

I presented this evidence so people here would know who is likely to testify against Jefferson at a trial, and what kind of evidence will be presented against him.

There is very little doubt that Jefferson will eventually be charged. However, the conduct of Republicans in this matter should make everyone take a step back and reconsider their motives for standing up for Jefferson's rights in this matter.

[specimenfred1984]

7. Get rid of all corrupt politicos, that's not embarrassing

it's what America is supposed to be about. If the guy's corrupt, the dems should take him down and be proud of it, the criminal repukes never take down their corrupt cronies.

[Blackhatjack]

28. Well said! If Democrats stand for the principle of being against corruption...

... then the principle cannot be based in any way on political affiliation.

The embarrassing part is that Jefferson is a self-designated Democrat, has not stepped down and in fact ran for reelection as a Democrat and was reelected.

The Democratic Party leaders who are now in majority control of the House need to be very careful in how they handle this matter, and make sure it does not appear that they are trying to cover for Jefferson or excuse his conduct in any way.

The choice of how Jefferson proceeds from here is entirely up to Jefferson, as it should be. However sometimes we need to make our position clear that his decisions are not necessarily supported by the Democratic Party in majority control of the House.

[babylonsister]

8. WHY has this man not been charged? No one ever answers that.

If he's guilty, I wish he would be, but I have major doubts since nothing has been done. :shrug:

[originalpckelly]

14. The evidence gathered from his office has been of a major debate...

I agree that it was a controversial search, and in fact they should really discount that evidence, but that evidence is not the video tape with Jefferson accepting the bribe, which would obviously be powerful evidence.

[Blackhatjack]

27. You often have to build the case from the bottom to the top.....

Look at who has already pled guilty pursuant to plea arrangements, which undoubtedly have a provision that requires their full truthful cooperation with prosecutors.

You gather evidence from those at the bottom, move up the food chain prosecuting people until you get to the top.

I simply gave my opinion based on the evidence that has been disclosed so far.

Of course, there will never be a prosecution if the DOJ decides, for whatever reason, that charges will not be brought against Jefferson.

The issues surrounding the seizure of documents from Jefferson's congressional office has pretty much been decided, unless the SCOTUS decides to weigh in.

[acmavm]

9. I know that the guy embarrasses and repulses me. And that's

just as a civilian democrat.

He makes everyone look bad.

[Warpy]

10. Jefferson isn't in big trouble yet

as the administration has everything sealed up so tight that charges haven't been brought.

My best guess is that they've gotten all the negative publicity about one crooked Democrat they can, and now they'll just try to make it all go away.

Jefferson has said he knows where a lot of bodies are buried and that the rest of the country will know it, too, if they try to bring him to trial.

He may be crooked or he may be telling the truth about holding all this stuff as evidence, waiting for a change of direction in Congress.

We'll see.

Meanwhile, the precedent of one branch of the government mounting this type of legal attack on another, searching private papers in Congressional offices, is a terrible one. I sincerely hope it comes back to bite this administration firmly and repeatedly in the ass.

[partylessinOhio]

12. Being caught by a sting trumps what the Decider has done to Amerika?

I don't think so.

Jefferson should not resign until the Chimp does.

How many deaths can be attributed to Jefferson? We know the Chimps has hundreds of thousands of deaths on his bloody hands.

[originalpckelly]

17. Oh stop it. This is the kind of crap Tom DeLay pulled...

and his sorry ass was corrupt as well. The search of Jefferson's office was unconstitutional, but no one made him accept that bribe, and the bribe is separate evidence from what was taken from his office.

[partylessinOhio]

33. Has Jefferson been charged?

If not, then he should not volunteer to resign. Bush would not. Bush will not even stop his insane war. JMO.

[Recursion]

42. Screw being charged: did he take the bribe money?

If he did, he should resign.

[Blackhatjack]

29. What Bush has done has no bearing upon whether Jefferson acted corruptly

If Bush is never held accountable, that is no reason to let other corrupt Congressmen go uncharged.

Do you feel the same way about corrupt Republican Congressmen? Should they go uncharged until Bush is held accountable?

This is an apples and oranges comparison.

[partylessinOhio]

37. I have no power to charge either of them. Jefferson has not been charged

so he should not volunteer to resign. I don't know the full story yet so I will just wait and see what happens.

[spanone]

13. Let the chips fall where they may. They're shits on both sides of the isle.

[neoblues]

18. You'd think Congressmen would be more careful...

not careful not to get caught, but more careful to be honest or at worst, only open themselves to questionable activities they have a real chance of explaining. Taking $100K in an obvious situation like this should be out of the question for any intelligent (not to mention honest) Congressman. Perhaps the fact so many have been caught will serve to put the fear of the God of Ethics into the rest.

[maveric]

21. We have our crooks and assholes too.

Just not nearly as many as the other side has.

[stillcool]

30. small fish in a big pond...

begs the question... in who's pockets does he reside? I dislike a narrow focus that magnifies the tree but obliterates the forest.

[originalpckelly]

31. I don't think I get your point, could you use some more metaphors?

[Blackhatjack]

32. LOL .... more metaphors? LOLOL

[stillcool]

40. Sure...

birds of a feather flock together.

[underpants]

34. He is going to be used as cover by the Reps to say their offices are off limits

don't believe the hype.

[Blackhatjack]

38. Bush's order that the docs be sealed for 45 days tells you he had an interest in advancing

such an argument if the opportunity presents itself.

Do we really need Bush injecting himself in a 'question' like this?
Is he really so enamored with William Jefferson that he had to stand up for him?

You can bet that Repubs are trying really hard to prepare for the coming 'storm' of investigations.

This is merely stage setting.

[underpants]

39. That is what I meant.

There is a great thread about this somewhere. Really opened my eyes about it.

Oh and by the way (original poster too) I will admit that it looks like Jefferson is guilty as sin but he has yet to be charged or even indicted yet. Some of that might have to do with seeing how the Dems handled this IF they got in power (so far they have handled it very well IMHO) but notice also that all the information we have on this comes from Gonzo's DoJ. No one else, that I know of, has seen these tapes or anything else for that matter.