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Jefferson linked to Africa diamonds caseBy CAIN BURDEAU Associated Press Writer NEW ORLEANS --Rep. William Jefferson, facing a federal trial on corruption charges, has been linked to the prosecution of a former diamond executive in Botswana, opening a new window onto the congressman's dealings in Africa. The New Orleans Democrat and his family allegedly were the recipients of illegally funded trips to Botswana in 2001 and 2002, according to charges Botswanan prosecutors have filed against the former director of the Debswana Diamond Co. Ltd., a partnership between diamond giant De Beers SA and the Botswana government. Jefferson has not been...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A Louisiana congressman accused of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes told a judge Thursday that FBI agents who interviewed him back in 2005 were so overbearing that they even followed him into the bathroom of his own home. Testifying under oath for the first time in his bribery case, Rep. William Jefferson, a Democrat, contradicted the testimony of FBI agents who said the August 2005 interview was cordial and friendly. Jefferson is seeking to suppress statements to FBI agents during the interview, as well as evidence seized from the home. Jefferson's lawyers argued that...

Jefferson's Campaign Donations Virtually StopNew Orleans Congressman Faces Federal Indictment UPDATED: 10:52 am CDT July 20, 2007 NEW ORLEANS -- While facing federal bribery charges, U.S. Rep. William Jefferson of New Orleans managed to raise less than $20,000 for a 2008 re-election campaign, according to a review of federal campaign finance reports by The Times-Picayune. The federal reports show Jefferson's campaign debt stands at $281,884 in outstanding loans. He received nine contributions, totaling $18,500, in the second quarter of the year. By contrast, U.S. Rep. Jim McCrery of Shreveport led the Louisiana House delegation in fundraising, posting $424,354 in contributions...

If you have any extra time, perhaps you might want to call members of the Black Caucus and give your support to William Jefferson(D-LA). Perhaps you might want to express your outrage. Maxine Waters needs to lead them in storming Nancy Pelosi's office. Perhaps there could be a really fun food fight. Keep in mind that nothing has happened to Patrick Kennedy. ================================================================================ African American Members of the 109th United States Congress The Honorable G.K. Butterfield North Carolina, 1st District U.S. House of Representatives 413 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C.  20515 Ph: 202-225-3101 The Honorable Sanford D. Bishop, Jr....

Black Caucus Opposes Jefferson Treatment By DAVID ESPO , 06.08.2006, 10:25 PM A drive by the Democratic leadership to strip embattled Rep. William Jefferson of his committee post triggered a backlash Thursday as the Congressional Black Caucus opposed the move and said the Louisiana lawmaker deserves a "presumption of innocence." The caucus chairman, Rep. Melvin Watt of North Carolina, told reporters that some black voters might ask why action was sought against "a black member of Congress" when there was neither precedent nor rule for it. Jefferson has not been indicted and has denied all wrongdoing in connection with a...

MIDI - BUS STOP Bus stop, wet day...what did she say...stretch Nancy Pelosi Bus stop, she screams...this is no dream...stretch Nancy Pelosi William Jefferson is caught with lots of C notes on ice Nancy's very agitated...to William she won't be nice For putting her foot deep down inside her mouth she really is developing a most peculiar knack She tells William that her party has no seats in front...he'll have to turn around and march straight to the back That's the way of their plantation...master and her slave Will Jefferson be uppity...it's time that he gets brave Nancy bought...

No Further right now.. Header on fox web site

WASHINGTON - Democratic leaders worked to strip embattled Rep. William Jefferson (news, bio, voting record) of his committee assignment on Thursday after the Louisiana lawmaker rebuffed repeated calls to step aside pending completion of a federal bribery investigation. Jefferson, at the center of an increasingly complicated legal and political controversy with racial overtones, insisted he would not go quietly. "I can guarantee" he will not voluntarily step aside, said Melanie Roussell, his spokeswoman. The congressman has not been indicted and has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. He is a member of the Ways and Means Committee, with authority over taxes, Medicare, trade,...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A congressman under investigation for bribery was caught on videotape accepting $100,000 in $100 bills from an FBI informant whose conversations with the lawmaker also were recorded, according to a court document released Sunday. Agents later found the cash hidden in his freezer. At one audiotaped meeting, Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., chuckles about writing in code to keep secret what the government contends was his corrupt role in getting his children a cut of a communications company's deal for work in Africa