Posted on 05/23/2006 12:33:37 PM PDT by LdSentinal
WASHINGTON, DC (KNX) -- Congressman William Jefferson says he's staying put. Jefferson is the target of a federal bribery investigation after FBI agents found $90 thousand in cash hidden in his freezer. He denies any wrongdoing and says he has no intention of resigning his seat in the House.
"There are two sides to every story. There are certainly two sides to this story,'' Rep. William Jefferson of Louisiana told reporters, adding that he could not discuss details of the pending federal investigation.
"This is not the time, this is not the forum'' to discuss it, he said.
Jefferson declared his innocence and restated his vow that he would not leave office.
"I expect to continue to represent the people who sent me here,'' he said.
The scandal has made it more difficult for Democrats to exploit a number of alleged Republican misdeeds as they attempt to re-take control of Congress in the November mid-term elections.
Jefferson's congressional office was raided by FBI investigators over the weekend. It was also disclosed that Jefferson had been videotaped accepting $100 thousand in cash intended as a bribe for a Nigerian official. A large portion of that money made up the cash that was found in Jefferson's freezer.
Jefferson claimed the raid on his congressional office was unprescedented, adding, "There is no real authority for it."
"I will admit that these were unusual steps that were taken in response to an unusual set of circumstances,'' Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said in response to questions about the justification for the FBI search on Capitol Hill.
Jefferson failed to receive support from his Democratic colleages.
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement: "Members of Congress must obey the law and cooperate fully with any criminal investigation, If they don't, they will be held accountable.''
There has been no direct call for Jefferson's resignation, but he is rumored to have been approached privately with similar proposals and has rejected all of them
Jefferson: "Are you going to believe me or your lying eyes?"
"Jefferson claimed the raid on his congressional office was unprescedented, adding, "There is no real authority for it."
So let me get this straight!
It's ok to demand the President release information or be THREATENED by an investigation or possibly IMPEACHED, but it's not ok to investigate a corrupt Democrat Senator?
Now who was that REPUBLICAN that's in prison for the exact same thing?
A la Cynthia McKinney.
The gift that keeps on giving! 'Rat corruption...
Why should he resign? He is only doing what democrats do.
"There are two sides to every story" yeah, whenever there's a D next to the accused's name. When it's an R, they call for impeachment and public hangings.
I wonder why the MSM isn't reminding everyone that this was the guy who used the NG to secure his personal affects during Katrina?
Corrupt demonrats do not have to resign. Only Republicans have to do so. Term limits are needed.
Jefferson, like his cash is frozen in time.
It won't make any difference to the Democrats. They already have a sitting congressman, Alcee Hastings, who was impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate for being part of a conspiracy to take a $150,000 bribe when he was a federal judge.
Not if Senator Frist can help it. He's saying the search was illegal. Wont be long it'll be thrown out and he'll go scott free
Not if Senator Frist can help it. He's saying the search was illegal. Wont be long it'll be thrown out and he'll go scott free
I knew the day this broke how it would play out: if he'd been a white Republican, he would immediately be assumed guilty, his own party would pressure him to resign, the media would be all over it, and Jay Leno would be telling prison jokes about him every night. But he's a black Democrat, so he'd refuse to resign, the party would rally around him, the media would bury the story, and the only thing you'd hear is accusations that the FBI had a racist vendetta against him or that the search that turned up the dirty money wasn't legal. So far, the only thing I haven't seen yet from scenario #2 is the "racist vendetta" part, but it's on the way in: 3...2...1...
He's a Democrat. He's from Louisiana. What's the problem?
Yes, but they don't want him out because he might be guilty, they want him out because it might detract from the "culture of corruption" campaign...ignoring others like Mollohan, Hastings, Reid, etc.
Of course they do. This guy along with Rep (D) Mollohan totally squelch their "culture of corruption" screeching. That was the ONLY "plan" the DEMs had going into the November elections.
I hope he is ready to hit the campaign trail for the next election. We need him out there in all 50 states speaking on behalf of his colleauges, etc.. Time to thaw out some money and hit the road.
The difference is that Pubbies will throw out a corrupt official in the next election.
On the other hand, Black Dims can be as crooked as they wanna be and still get re-elected.
What about the $90k they found in his freezer at home? I think they had photocopies of the bills in his possession, plus lots of other evidence. That going to be thrown out, too?
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