Posted on 06/15/2006 1:46:32 PM PDT by Libloather
Firm lent Jefferson at least $50,000
Business pressed FCC to launch satellite
Thursday, June 15, 2006
By Bill Walsh and Bruce Alpert - Washington bureau
WASHINGTON -- Rep. William Jefferson, D-New Orleans, who is at the center of a federal criminal bribery probe, received a personal loan from a satellite radio executive who has had business before the federal government, financial records released Wednesday show.
Noah Samara, CEO of WorldSpace Inc., loaned Jefferson between $50,001 and $100,000, according to Jefferson's financial disclosure form for 2005. The date of the loan is not given, but Samara's company was pressing the Federal Communications Commission to let it launch a new satellite last year.
Samara's company, which delivers satellite radio in poor countries, has not been mentioned in any documents released in the federal investigation of Jefferson's role in a telecommunications deal in West Africa.
Asked whether the company had received a subpoena in the case, WorldSpace spokeswoman Judith Pryor said, "We're not talking about that." Jefferson also declined to comment when asked about Samara.
The annual financial disclosure report comes a day before House Democrats are expected to decide whether Jefferson, who has not been charged, should remain on the powerful Ways and Means Committee. The 50-member Democratic Steering Committee last week recommended that Jefferson be removed from the tax-writing panel. The 203-member caucus is expected to do the same and, if approved, it would require a vote by all 435 members of the House.
Federal investigators say Jefferson demanded bribes to promote telecommunications deals in West Africa. Agents said they have videotape of Jefferson accepting $100,000 from a cooperating witness for a bribe intended for a Nigerian official and that $90,000 of that cash was later found in the freezer of the congressman's Capitol Hill home.
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
As I posted elsewhere, I figured that the 90k of cold cash was but the tip of the iceberg of both his crimes and what they have caught him doing.
How many freezers does this guy have?
seel: crawfish
Let them. Because, then they can't claim the "ethics" high ground.
This would have been a problem for the Republicans this fall.
They longer Jefferson is around, the better. Lets hope they are still digging up stuff on him this fall.
Samara, a soft-spoken Ethiopian-born lawyer
Noah A. Samara ’78. Born in Ethiopia and raised there and in Tanzania, Mr. Samara was an international student at ESU in the 1970s who went on to create a 16 billion dollar satellite radio corporation based on his altruistic intention to share information with millions in Asia and Africa, with the specific intention of stopping the spread of disease, particularly AIDS.
At the age of 34, Mr. Samara became the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of the internationally-known company, WorldSpace Corporation.
Mr. Samara received his bachelor’s degree in English from East Stroudsburg State College in 1978, a master’s degree in international business from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and a doctor of jurisprudence from Georgetown University Law School.
******
http://www.addistribune.com/Archives/2001/06/22-06-01/gif/sep.gif
Noah A. Samara
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Noah Samara has served as the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of WorldSpace and its predecessors since inception. Mr. Samara has been involved in the development of both geostationary and low earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems since the mid-1980s. Mr. Samara’s early career was in satellite telecommunications, first with Geostar Corporation and later with the Washington law firm of Venable, Baetjer, Howard & Civiletti.
This guy has been on the take for decades. When he was a state senator his nickname was "Dollar Bill." He was always one of the most blatantly crooked politicians in an environment in which there were many.
He also has made a living as a poverty pimp. He owned one of those "rent-to-own" furniture and appliance companies which pray on folks by charging an arm and a leg to rent TVs and then charge near usery rates at time of purchase.
Yeah, it was a LOAN with very favorable terms. Like no repayment necessary, 0% interest, yadda yadda.
"lent"
Any tie in with Joe Wilson I wonder?
Another Cunningham? If so, throw him in jail!
Say it isn't so! LMAO........God, this has been a great year! The rats are just dying off left and right and election 2006 is less than 5 months away. Our glorious troops are winning in Iraq and it's nearly summertime.
GOD BLESS AMERICA and GOD BLESS the hapless rats for giving us so much comic relief.
"Rainbow Push" has been disenfranchised!
Disclosures show interests of lawmakers Reports offer a look at troubles and pastimes that affect bottom line By SAMANTHA LEVINE
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau
Excerpt----Disclosure data from Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, were unavailable — she was granted an extension until Aug. 13 because of a family emergency, according her staff. She has, however, received similar waivers for at least the past four years, and her staff was unable to provide information on them.
Sept. 13, 2005 — 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, ABC News has learned...
...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.
Breaking...
"Mr. Samara received his bachelor’s degree in English from East Stroudsburg State College in 1978, a master’s degree in international business from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and a doctor of jurisprudence from Georgetown University Law School."
Gee, how many people did they think were going to listen to
Air America in Africa???
Flash! Flash! Flash!
Someone must notify Pelosi.....
Her claim of Corruption in Congress is correct....
We have found the corrupt bastards, and it is HER party...
Semper Fi
No doubt the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, being unable to move their funds to another region within Nigeria, has enlisted Jefferson's help to store surplus monies in his freezer for a modest fee.
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