"The bi#&h set me up!"
Posted on 06/05/2007 10:10:14 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Rep. William J. Jefferson told congressional leaders Tuesday that he plans to take a temporary leave of absence from the House Small Business Committee after his indictment on charges of receiving more than $500,000 in bribes, according to a Democratic leadership aide.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because Jefferson's announcement had not been made public, said the Louisiana Democrat was stepping down while his legal affairs are resolved. A spokeswoman for the congressman did not have immediate comment.
Jefferson's decision to take a leave from the panel comes a few days before House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., is expected to urge a special Democratic House panel to oust him from the committee. Last year, she succeeded in stripping Jefferson of his seat on the Ways and Means Committee over Jefferson's objection. The congressman, who represents part of hurricane-ravaged New Orleans, was then re-elected in November to a ninth term in the House.
On Monday a federal grand jury in Alexandria, Va. handed up an indictment of Jefferson on 16 counts, including racketeering, soliciting bribes, wire fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice and conspiracy. He faces a possible maximum sentence of 235 years.
The indictment said Jefferson received more than $500,000 in bribes and sought millions more in separate schemes to enrich himself by using his office to broker business deals in Africa. The charges came almost two years after investigators raided Jefferson's home in Washington and found $90,000 in cash stuffed in his freezer.
Say “hi” to Lindsay in rehab for me, Willie.
They should just kick him out and be done with him.
“he plans to take a temporary leave of absence from the House Small Business Committee”
I guess it’s all relative, but 235 years seems a little more than temporary to me.
"The bi#&h set me up!"
Politicians using their offices to become millionaires. Imagine that?
This is unjust... why, just last week they delivered a new ‘fridge to me and there was $113K in the freezer. /sarc
Ask Grandma Pelosi--she put him there.
They're a bunch of charlatans, at best.
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
U.S. House of Representatives
H-204 Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Speaker Pelosi:
In the light of recent developments in a legal matter involving me in the Eastern District of Virginia, I hereby request a leave from my duties as a Member of the House Small Business Committee pending my successful conclusion of that matter.
In doing so, I, of course, express no admission of guilt or culpability in that or any other matter that may be pending in any court or before the House of Representatives. I have supported every ethics and lobbying reform measure that you and our Democratic Majority have authored, and I make this request for leave to support the letter and the spirit of your leadership in this area.
Sincerely,
William J. Jefferson
Waiting for his impending hung jury.
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