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Amid Katrina Chaos, Congressman Used National Guard to Visit Home
ABC News ^ | September 13, 2005 | kabar

Posted on 09/14/2005 4:31:26 AM PDT by kabar

Amid the chaos and confusion that engulfed New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina struck, a congressman used National Guard troops to check on his property and rescue his personal belongings — even while New Orleans residents were trying to get rescued from rooftops...

On Sept. 2 — five days after Katrina hit the Gulf Coast — Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., who represents New Orleans and is a senior member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, was allowed through the military blockades set up around the city to reach the Superdome, where thousands of evacuees had been taken.

Military sources tell ABC News that Jefferson, an eight-term Democratic congressman, asked the National Guard... to take him on a tour of the flooded portions of his congressional district. A 5-ton military truck and a half dozen military police were dispatched.

"I did not seek the use of military assets to help me get around my city," Jefferson told ABC News. "There was shooting going on...They thought I should be escorted by some military guards, both to the convention center, the Superdome and uptown."

Jefferson went into the house alone, the source says, while the soldiers waited on the porch for about an hour.

Finally, according to the source, Jefferson emerged with a laptop computer, three suitcases, and a box about the size of a small refrigerator, which the enlisted men loaded up into the truck.

Snip

In an unrelated matter, authorities recently searched Jefferson's property as part of a federal investigation into the finances of a high-tech firm. Last month FBI officials raided Jefferson's house as well as his home in Washington, D.C., his car and his accountant's house.

Last week, Jefferson set up a special trust fund for contributions to his legal defense in light of the FBI investigation.

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: katrina
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Dems dat has is dems dat gets.
1 posted on 09/14/2005 4:31:28 AM PDT by kabar
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To: kabar

Interesting that ABC would even report this.


2 posted on 09/14/2005 4:33:41 AM PDT by kabar
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To: kabar
Just another one of the many huge cockroaches that inhabit the New Orleans area.
3 posted on 09/14/2005 4:36:52 AM PDT by Recon Dad (The Hallmark JDAM - "For those who want to send the very best")
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To: kabar

Destroying evidence is most likely the reason for this little visit to his home.


4 posted on 09/14/2005 4:37:19 AM PDT by OldFriend (MAJ. TAMMY DUCKWORTH ~ A NATIONAL TREASURE)
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To: kabar

Amid the chaos and confusion that engulfed New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina struck, a congressman used National Guard troops to check on his property and rescue his personal belongings — even while New Orleans residents were trying to get rescued from rooftops...

Yes, let's have a Congressional hearing on this matter. By all means.

There is a thread on FR now that Blanco refused to even ask for FEMA's help in the day or two before the hurricane hit.


5 posted on 09/14/2005 4:39:14 AM PDT by Peach (South Carolina is praying for our Gulf coast citizens.)
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To: kabar

Nice RICH Black Man but this will go unnoticed because he is NOT WHITE!


6 posted on 09/14/2005 4:51:49 AM PDT by funkywbr
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To: Peach

Now we know why the Dems don't want to participate in the Congressional inquiry. In addition to incompetence, Congress will find corruption. Follow the money.


7 posted on 09/14/2005 4:56:14 AM PDT by kabar
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To: kabar

ABC reported this? Amazing... The MSM must really be losing its grip!


8 posted on 09/14/2005 4:59:28 AM PDT by marktwain
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To: kabar
In an unrelated matter, authorities recently searched Jefferson's property as part of a federal investigation into the finances of a high-tech firm. Last month FBI officials raided Jefferson's house as well as his home in Washington, D.C., his car and his accountant's house.

How funny is this?

9 posted on 09/14/2005 5:10:41 AM PDT by 11Bush
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To: Recon Dad

Just another good reason not to rebuild. I don't have a problem with preserving the historical aspects, if possible but the rest needs to be cleaned out like a boil.


10 posted on 09/14/2005 5:23:14 AM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: 11Bush

You're right. That struck me as odd as well. I wonder who made that determination. I also got a kick out of the description of what he took out of the house, particularly "a box about the size of a small refrigerator." LOL.


11 posted on 09/14/2005 5:33:02 AM PDT by kabar
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To: 11Bush
authorities recently searched Jefferson's property as part of a federal investigation

Not funny at all.

All those who are surprised by the fact that a wealthy and politically well-connected resident used the NG for his own personal transportation and security force, raise your hands. Anyone? Anyone?

I thought not. And I expect more of this.

12 posted on 09/14/2005 5:33:26 AM PDT by aBootes
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To: kabar

I can imagine him during the hurricane, frantically worried that some very important property - possibly some revealing evidence - was stored at his house and available for any looter.


13 posted on 09/14/2005 5:41:04 AM PDT by Moonmad27
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To: All
"Lt. Col. Pete Schneider of the Louisiana National Guard tells ABC News that during the tour, Jefferson asked that the truck take him to his home on Marengo Street, in the affluent uptown neighborhood in his congressional district. According to Schneider, this was not part of Jefferson's initial request. "

Good for the LA National Guard for standing up and telling it like it is. I hope they protect this Lt. Col. from repercussions.

14 posted on 09/14/2005 5:43:39 AM PDT by OB1kNOb (Sometimes I just can't see the forest for all the DU gumps.)
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To: kabar

Thanks for posting, was waiting last night for the official copy. Carlson had just received it from a friend last night... still doesn't tell the real story. Developing... will let you know.


15 posted on 09/14/2005 5:46:42 AM PDT by AliVeritas (Ignorance is a condition. Stupidity is a strategy.)
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To: kabar

Take this with that:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/03/AR2005080301914.html


16 posted on 09/14/2005 5:47:54 AM PDT by AliVeritas (Ignorance is a condition. Stupidity is a strategy.)
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To: kabar

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=89108


17 posted on 09/14/2005 5:49:24 AM PDT by AliVeritas (Ignorance is a condition. Stupidity is a strategy.)
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To: AliVeritas

Thanks for the links. LA politics are a cesspool. I wonder if Kofi got a piece of the action in Ghana.


18 posted on 09/14/2005 5:54:22 AM PDT by kabar
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To: kabar

You guys are just picking on him because he is black./s


19 posted on 09/14/2005 5:54:31 AM PDT by sgtbono2002
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To: kabar

Always good to see the DUmmycrats take care of themselves first, and to hell with their constituents who will vote them back in regardless. Witness the total idiot Cynthia McKinney as a perfect example.


20 posted on 09/14/2005 6:02:09 AM PDT by Cautor
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