Posted on 06/17/2009 9:41:22 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
The attorney for William J. Jefferson tackled the "elephant in the room" in opening statements Tuesday, explaining the notorious $90,000 "cold cash" discovered in the former congressman's freezer as an FBI setup bid. Prosecutors, for their part, painted a portrait of a debt-ridden man selling out the public good.
In his opening speech in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Jefferson attorney Robert Trout addressed the best-known detail in the case - the marked bills found by federal agents in Mr. Jefferson's freezer wrapped inside Pillsbury Pie Crust boxes. He described the money as the trial's "elephant in the room."
He said Mr. Jefferson did not commit bribery because he never passed on the money to its intended recipient - then-Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar - and he accused a Jefferson business partner, who will not be testifying during the trial, of setting up the Louisiana Democrat.
FBI agents "set out to bag a congressman," Mr. Trout said, claiming the government "wrote the script and directed the action" while finding witnesses to fill the cast and placing Northern Virginia businesswoman Lori Mody in a starring role.
But Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Lytle claimed that at the time Mr. Jefferson and his wife, Andrea, owed more than $100,000 - $62,000 in credit card debts and $40,000 in bounced-check fees and other banking-related penalties. This might have motivated the nine-term congressman, who lost his re-election bid last year, to seek bribes, the prosecution argued.
"This case is about ... one of our government's most powerful officials using his public office for private gain repeatedly," Mr. Lytle said.
Mr. Jefferson, who represented parts of New Orleans, faces 16 counts of soliciting bribes, money laundering, racketeering and other crimes.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
$40K in bounced check and bank fees???????
Sounds like with all of that DEBT, he is well qualified to be in the Gov’t...voting to bring everything and everyone down to his level. I hope he is found guilty. I don’t like double standards, but people in HIGH public office need to be clean.
Testimony continues in trial of former Rep. William Jefferson
http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/testimony_continues_in_trial_o.html
Bruce Alpert, The Times-Picayune
Wednesday June 17, 2009, 10:39 AM
ALEXANDRIA, VA. - The federal corruption trial of former Rep. William Jefferson resumed this morning with testimony from the founder of a technology firm who has pleaded guilty to paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to companies controlled by the congressman’s family.
Vernon Jackson, former CEO of iGate, said he made the payments in exchange for Jefferson’s help in arranging contacts and deals with Western African officials. He said Jefferson was using his influence as a congressman, not acting as a consultant or private businessman.
The distinction is key to the government’s 16-count indictment of Jefferson, who is accused of trading on his public office for personal gain. Jefferson has pleaded not guilty, and his attorneys argue that the bribery charges against him should be dismissed because they do not involve “official acts” such as voting or introducing legislation and earmarks.
Amazing how they only barely mention his party affiliation......If this was a Republican...it would be every other word...
He learned well from Pelosi. The CIA did it. Now the FBI did it. These people are fools. The problem I see now is that bigger fools will back him up. I wish they would put $90,000.00 in my freezer.
$40,000.00 in BOUNCED CHECK FEES???????? OMG! How much did he take when the Congressmen had THEIR OWN BANK????
In that whole excerpt the word democrat was used one time.
Had he been republican his full name and party affiliation would have been used in every instance instead of he, the, or defendant.
“Bitch set me up...” —Marion Barry, Mayor, Washington DC.
If Jefferson had an (R) after this name, there would be calls to lead him to the gallows already.
He’ll get off on a hung jury (sit down Bawney Frank, calm yourself down).
Then why did he pay his “frozen assets” a visit in the days after Katrina? He had National Guardsmen escort him to his home while New Orleans citizens were dying in the streets.
He took the money. Therefore he committed an act of bribery. It would've been criminal conspiracy to involve others.
A more OBJECTIVE title would read: “ Jefferson (D-LA) blames ‘cold cash’ on ‘FBI sting’”
Heck, folks, nothing to see here, just move on to the next Obama TV event.
Off subject, but a burning question--Is everyone else on this forum as sick of big "O"'s ears flapping and mouth moving daily on TV as I am?
vaudine
I guess he is using one of the OJ defenses. Cops planted evidence!
ABC News believes the Democrat! ( they don’t need no stinkin facts - they need a “D” by the name)
“B*tch done set me up.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.