U.S. Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) might claim (bribery) deals private

NOLA ^ | 1/21/06 | Bruce Alpert

[Libloather]

Jefferson might claim deals private
'Official acts' issue could play key role in case
Saturday, January 21, 2006
By Bruce Alpert
Washington bureau

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. William Jefferson's public response to the federal government's investigation of his business dealings suggests his legal defense could be that his actions were distinct and separate from his congressional responsibilities and therefore not subject to federal bribery statutes, legal experts say.

The New Orleans Democrat last week said he had never requested or accepted anything to "perform a service for which I have been elected." He said he is disappointed and perplexed by a former aide's guilty plea last week and the former aide's accusations that Jefferson had demanded jobs for family members and a business stake in exchange for his assistance with lucrative telecommunications contracts in Nigeria and Ghana.

Jefferson has not been charged.

**SNIP**

Sitting in limbo

Legal experts say that if an indictment is filed against the congressman, the outcome of a trial could come down to whether a Northern Virginia jury, which would hear the case, believes anything given or offered the congressman was related to his official duties, as the government would argue, or, as his defense would suggest, related to private business transactions.

**SNIP**

Crucial element alleged

In legal papers filed last week in the Jefferson investigation, the government went to great lengths to suggest that the bribery and conspiracy charge to which former Jefferson aide Brett Pfeffer pleaded guilty, and agreed to testify about, was directly related to official acts.

**SNIP**

U.S. 'must prove link'

Still, Bloom said, the government has to offer more than simply its own statements that Jefferson was acting in his official capacity.

[Libloather]

Louisiana Congressman, William Jefferson, D-New Orleans, left, and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, appear before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Housing and Community Development meeting in New Orleans Friday afternoon Jan. 13, 2006. The subcommittee came to New Orleans to discussing the housing problems caused by Hurricane Katrina. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

From another NOLA.com story -

Newspaper plays guessing game

The Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call speculated last week about who would get Rep. William Jefferson's Ways & Means Committee assignment if the New Orleans Democrat is a casualty of the criminal investigation now swirling around him. It quotes unnamed "insiders" predicting the coveted seat on the tax-writing committee would go to Rep. Artur Davis, D-Ala. Jefferson's future became grist for the mill two weeks ago when a former aide to the congressman pleaded guilty to conspiracy and bribery, saying Jefferson demanded money for helping a U.S. telecommunications company get a foothold in Africa. Jefferson has not been charged with any crime and has denied doing anything wrong; his office declined to comment on the Roll Call article. For Louisianians worried about losing precious clout at a critical time, they can take some solace in another piece of Capitol Hill speculation: Rep. Jim McCrery, R-Shreveport, is considered to have a good shot at becoming the next chairman of Ways & Means.

[metesky]

Another DemonRat with an alternative definition of "is".

[billhilly]

"The New Orleans Democrat last week said he had never requested or accepted anything to "perform a service for which I have been elected."

He wouldn't be the first full time congressman running a full time business involved in the rip-off industry.

[Mo1]

.

[metesky]

America has a long and proud tradition of payroll patriots. Even the universally praised Daniel Webster wrote a letter (found in a N.E. attic about 15/20 years ago) telling a "corporate sponsor" to the effect, "Look you said if I made a speech promoting x, you'd give me $. I made the speech, where's the $?"

[Breyean]

Rush ripped this guy big time about this and his actions during the hurricane as he tried to use his position to get law enforcement and rescue workers to escort him to his home in the flooded area. According to Rush, he was trying to retrieve incriminating evidence about his deals before law enforcement could get to it.

Wonder if Rush will pick up on this again.

[auboy]

Jefferson: "I am a Democrat. Therefore, I am innocent."

[Galactic Overlord-In-Chief]

This guy will be gone no matter what. Katrina whacked N.O. so badly it won't be big enough for a congressional district. The next round of redistricting will likely make it impossible for him to win.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Another guilty democrat.

(But, of course, the "conservative" MSM is going to "viciously attack" him and demand he resign.........)

Nothing to see here, nothing at all. Just another (liberal/black/socialist/hate-mongering/lying/stealing/cheating/democrat hiding (hundreds of thousands of cash) money in his freezer.

[billhilly]

The Searchers stands as one of the greatest Westerns of all time. At least in my mind.

[kjo]

The double-standard of the MSM is AMAZING. Dimocrats simply don't get covered on negative stories. AMAZING!

[budman_2001]

And Paris Hilton has never done the horizontal mombo neither!

Stupid is NOT stamped on my forehead, OK?

[auboy]

Jefferson's face in the picture reminds me of Clinton's face when he was waving his finger in the nation's face on national TV.

The Eagles' Lyin' Eyes comes to mind.

[grey_whiskers]

William Jefferson's face in the picture reminds me of Clinton's face when he was waving his finger in the nation's face on national TV.

He's being rather, --err, blythe -- about the whole thing, isn't he?

Full Disclosure: "It's just about bribes. What I do in my private life has nothing to do with my public office."

Cheers!

[Rembrandt]

I hope Republican sleuths are checking into the current affairs of one Alcee Hastings, now a Federal Representative from Florida but also a former Judge who was impeached for fraud, a felony.