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
Of course, it will never occur to the brainless mediots at CNN that perhaps the reason they're so "upset" might have something to do with the fact that Willy was the bag man for bribes.
"Jefferson-D Refuses to Resign House Seat"
Good, very good.
He will be the darling of the "lose to win" crowd next.
They've probably released only 50% of the hard evidnce they have. He's trying to hold on..to get the best deal possible..it makes sense from his perspective....about all he can offer is other dirty congressman..most likely Dems...it takes Pelosi's big corruption issue right off the table..
And Marion Barry - another DimRat total loser just like Nagin and this guy.
. . .save for Bill Frist; who is questioning, not Jefferson's 'cold cash'; but our FBI in their methodology of the search. . .
Truth and integrity are outmoded concepts. Didn't you get the memo ?
There is no question there are differences. . .
And to this, we know the Dems SCREAM for Repubs to resign and on this so far, they are fairly quiet. . .another difference. . .
Whoa. . .I forgot about that. . .and 'him'; for that matter.
How stupid can one man be? A question that can defy the best imagination. . .
Wishful thinking??
Hopefully he will be Rostenkowskied.
There is no value in honor anymore in mainstream America. At least Cunningham, a decorated pilot, took his lumps and paid the price. Cunningham, instead, is held with disdain in the MSM while Jefferson, if found guilty, will claim all the usual racism, poor people of NO/LA, if I were white it would be different, etc, etc and be rewarded for "having the smarts" to get away with it.
Being from N.O., he'll be reelected with over 70% of the vote.
But WHY is the Repub House leadership up in arms because the FBI searched this criminal's Congressional office? They appear to be defending him! Makes them look... well, in cahoots somehow.
It's probably too late now. But in future years history books will conclude the defeat of term-limits was the last chance for America to save herself from continued corruption and ultimate collapse.
You got that right..
You tell 'em.
Ninty thousand bucks of bribe money in his freezer. Yeah, I'll bet he's got a HELL of a story.
They're more concerned with the sanctity of Club Congress than they are with the behavior of individual members.
-PJ
The big corruption issue...I still want to know how some dude named Laurence Pelosi got the big Navy contract via Murtha's brother?
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