Posted on 01/05/2007 11:48:33 AM PST by markomalley
On only the fourth day of the new year, we’ve decided that the 2007 “Some Nerve!” award goes to ... Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.).
You might think that a guy who’s still the subject of a federal bribery investigation would be more careful than to use taxpayer resources to raise campaign money. But nope, not Jefferson. And heck, he still hasn’t provided us with that “honorable explanation” he promised for the bizarro (and alleged) $90,000 in cash federal agents confiscated from a freezer in his Capitol Hill home.
Last week, House Democrats were shocked to receive a letter from Jefferson — on his official Congressional stationery, no less — asking colleagues to donate money to help him retire his campaign debt.
“As you know,” the letter, dated Dec. 29, 2006, began, “I recently won a grueling race for re-election.” (And won resoundingly in a runoff, despite the ongoing federal probe in which two people have already pleaded guilty.) “In order to get our message out and otherwise compete, we incurred over $200,000 in debt.
“Therefore, I would deeply appreciate it if you would assist me in retiring my debt by contributing $1,000 (or whatever amount you can afford) to my campaign,” Jefferson wrote.
Nice letter. Too bad it violates House ethics rules. It’s a no-no to use taxpayer resources to raise campaign dough.
Some Democratic aides were downright aghast at Jefferson’s audacity at using franked envelopes, official letterhead and the House internal mail service in a blatant violation of House rules.
“We were going to send him a check in a freezer bag,” joked one chief of staff to a Democratic Member of Congress who received Jefferson’s solicitation.
Another, only slightly snarkier, Democratic House chief of staff pitched in with: “He’s got $90,000 in his freezer, why can’t he buy some stationery and stamps?” (Answer: Because the Feds took the money!) The chief of staff added, “Some people will never learn. Can’t he go away already?”
Jefferson, who has not been indicted (yet) in the bribery scandal, sent out the letter by mistake, according to his office. His staff apparently meant to use campaign stationery, but instead used the boss’s “Congress of the United States” letterhead, which, by the way, still lists Jefferson as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Remember, Jefferson’s own Democratic colleagues voted overwhelmingly to kick him off the committee last summer after the FBI claimed it had videotaped the Congressman accepting $100,000 in marked bills from an informant. And now Jefferson has the gumption to write them and ask for money?
Jefferson’s spokeswoman, Melanie Russell, told HOH that the Congressman himself was unaware of the boo-boo until she went to him with our request for comment. “It’s news to him,” she sighed.
“It was just a tremendous — tremendous — staff error,” she said. “We are contacting the appropriate committees to apologize and rectify the situation.”
We presume that will involve the cash-strapped Jefferson campaign reimbursing the House Franking Commission for the costs involved in sending the fundraising solicitation.
Someone may have died in their absence, while the Guard did his crooked bidding.
depends on what the definition of is, is.
Oh, please ... give me a break!
Well, on second thought, this kind of crap has happened many times throughout history. I just thought it wouldn't happen here. I must remember, corrupt government is corrupt government no matter where it happens. It's happening right here in our failing Republic.......
Guess I was naive.........
FMCDH(BITS)
This article did NOT state that this same man, that is being made fun of by Democrat staffers, got a STANDING OVATION by the Cong. Black Caucus yesterday....
whick tells me, his behaviour is approved by at least SOME Congresscritters.
It seems there could be a correlation between Jefferson's brain and a box of rocks. As for his staff making the mistake, he hired them.
Didn't stop the congressional black caucus from giving jefferson a standing ovation yesterday.
If they weren't playing with our very survival, having the RATs in power might be amusing.
"“It was just a tremendous — tremendous — staff error,” she said. “We are contacting the appropriate committees to apologize and rectify the situation.” "
Then they should all be fired immediately and brought up on federal charges...
HAHAHA.... That was pretty funny.
Now THAT's funny.
Nice start for "The most Ethical Congress in History".........
MSM still too busy sniffing peloosie's skirt to pay attention to substance.
No wonder the Congressional Black Caucus gave him a standing ovation yesterday.
Well, it was found in a freezer. :O)
His protective melanin immunizes him from criticism, discipline and perhaps indictment.
Hey, Nancy, princess big talk on ethics--we want action, we want action. Oh, that's right--TALKING about democratic ethics IS action to you.
And in the words of Don Surber:
"Forget that investigation of Mollohan. He now chairs the subcommittee that oversees the FBI budget. Some swamps are drained, others are protected wetlands.
Murtha chairs the subcommittee overlooking the defense budget. His brother will be lining up the suitors on K Street."
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