Posted on 05/28/2006 9:03:28 PM PDT by FairOpinion
Representative William J. Jefferson has always liked to talk about growing up in an impoverished farm community, picking cotton for $3 a day and hitting the books hard enough to win his ticket out — a scholarship to Harvard Law School.
But even as Mr. Jefferson built a reputation as one of Louisiana's brightest, most effective leaders, a less flattering view began to emerge, one signified by his nickname in political circles, "Dollar Bill."
Early in his career, as a state legislator, he was criticized for enriching his law firm with contracts from state and local agencies. He also ran stores that rented appliances by the month to poor residents, owned dilapidated apartment buildings and was sued by federal regulators over a defaulted loan.
Still, once Mr. Jefferson became a close ally of President Bill Clinton, and then won a seat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, he was able to provide "absolute A+" support for city projects, said Marc H. Morial, one of Ernest Morial's sons and the mayor of New Orleans from 1994 to 2002.
Mr. Jefferson also became known as a strong advocate of freer trade and made at least nine trips to Africa to promote it, including one with President Clinton. He championed a 2000 law that extended trade benefits to sub-Saharan Africa. "Africa is a reservoir of opportunities for American businesses," he said then.
Over the years, Mr. Jefferson has received campaign contributions and free travel from individuals and companies seeking business in Africa, including iGate.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I do believe your ship has docked, quit reading the NYT for your news.
Is this like Al Gore "Plowing the hillsides and chopping down trees with a double-edged ax"?
I wouldn't trust Gore with a double edged shaving razor.
I think I want to see the proof of Mr Jefferson's "difficult childhood".
Not like the Democrats lie or anything-or take bribes.
What I find intriguing are the similarities between the two William Jeffersons....
LOL! Yeah. If I could steal one of Redd Foxx's greatest lines, I think it would fit William Jefferson, DEMOCRAT LOUISIANA perfectly. "The only cotton you ever picked was out of an aspirin bottle."
"Isn't this Jefferson low-life the dude that procured the use of the National Guard to ferry him to his New Orleans area house right after hurricane Katrina?"
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Yes, that's the one. And I think he had them move his refrigerator, now we know why -- it was a very valuable refrigerator. ;)
The leading recipient of [privately funded] trips in the Louisiana delegation is U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-New Orleans. Jefferson’s office racked up about $81,800 worth of trips both home and abroad.
Jefferson himself took six trips, among them excursions to Las Vegas, Qatar and Egypt. On most trips, Jefferson took his wife, Andrea, and he took his two daughters on a speaking engagement to Miami, according to congressional travel disclosure records.
Jefferson defended the travel, saying that the trips were either diplomatic or trade missions. He sits on the House Ways and Means Committee, which writes the nation’s tax laws, and the trade subcommittee.
Jefferson said he would support banning some trips.
"It’s probably good to ban trips to play golf, but to go help the Middle East?" he said.
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The warrants also indicate that federal investigators are particularly interested in the connections between Jefferson and a small technology company, iGate Inc. in Louisville, Ky., the source said. The company was one sponsor of a weeklong, $16,312 trip Jefferson made to Africa last year, records show.
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The lawyers said they think federal officials dodged the district level because one of Jefferson's daughters, Jelani Jefferson, is a clerk for U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon.
The company associated with Jefferson's wife is The ANJ Group LLC. Records on file with the Louisiana secretary of state's office list the group's manager as Andrea G. Jefferson, 1922 Marengo St. Records connected to The ANJ Group were among items sought by federal agents, according to the source who saw the search warrants. The exact nature of The ANJ Group's business was unclear Friday.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity and who declined to provide a copy of the warrants, said there was "a decidedly foreign flavor" to the list of materials sought by federal agents in their raids last week on Jefferson's homes in New Orleans and Washington, his car in the capital, and the office of his longtime accountant and campaign treasurer in New Orleans.
Nigeria and another African country unspecified by the source are mentioned in the search warrants. The warrants further specify that the agents sought correspondence and e-mail between Jefferson and named foreign nationals, the source said. The source declined to comment on what the agents might have seized in the raids.
http://tinyurl.com/pu6h8
Very interesting! Bump to your post 48.
I do hope the FBI keeps digging.
Didn't Hillary and Chelsea go on quite a long trip to Africa towards the end of Slicks time in office?
"Didn't Hillary and Chelsea go on quite a long trip to Africa towards the end of Slicks time in office?"
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They sure did. In 1997.
Hillary Clinton's triumphant trip to Africa; historic voyage marks the most extensive visit by a U.S. first lady
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n9_v52/ai_19566001
IN the most extensive African trip ever undertaken by a U.S. first lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton visited six African countries and praised the largely untold story of the continent's social, economic and political progress. Donning African gowns and participating in African dances and ceremonies, the first lady, accompanied by daughter Chelsea, was greeted with the enthusiasm usually reserved for heads of state and movie stars.
Among the highlights of the trip were a visit with President Nelson Mandela to Robben Island, a tour of Soweto, and major speeches in South Africa and Uganda. She also visited Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Africa's newest country, Eritrea. Her first stop in Senegal was at Goree Island, where she peered through "The Door of No Return," through which slaves passed on their way to the dreaded Middle Passage of the Slave Trade. When she arrived in Dakar, Senegal, the first lady was greeted by Senegalese who danced and serenaded her with lyrics written especially for the occasion.
I wouldn't be surprised that if the FBI is able to follow the trail, they will find Clinton involved in the corruption somehow.
Slick was a he!! of a lot busier during his eight years than any of us have given him credit for. Trouble is it was all to either line his own pockets or against the U.S.
Looks like GWB played another Ace card when he came up with the 45 days seal on those papers the FBI confiscated from the Jefferson searches:>)))))
Yes, in 1998. The trip was coordinated by none other than Joe Wilson of Nigergate fame, and William "frozen bribe" Jefferson was among the entourage.
The photo of the Jefferson family graves is the perfect touch, along with the photo of "Dollar Bill" as a wee boy.
Nobody does it better.
Congress is back to 1993.
This 'Rat is a slumlord, just like Algore was!
I wonder how many of those appliances were free gifts for opening up new bank accounts.
Morial's uncle pleads guilty to RTA theft.
"We will not rest until corruption is eradicated and every public servant is dedicated to public service and not private service," Letten said.
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