Posted on 07/19/2006 10:44:08 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - A federal judge said Wednesday that investigators could examine documents seized in a search of Rep. William Jefferson (news, bio, voting record)'s office, denying a request to delay the bribery probe while the Louisiana Democrat appeals the judge's earlier ruling that the search was legal.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas F. Hogan said granting the delay "would harm the public's interest in a prompt and final outcome of the government's investigation of serious crimes involving a sitting United States congressman running for re-election in November."
Last week, Hogan rejected arguments by Jefferson and House leaders in both parties that the May 20-21 search of Jefferson's congressional office violated the Constitution's protections against intimidation of elected officials.
For 16 months, investigators have been looking into whether the congressman promoted the sale of telecommunications equipment and services in exchange for stock and cash.
At issue is whether a review of the seized documents can begin by an FBI "filter team" unconnected to the prosecution team looking into bribery allegations. Jefferson contends no one in the executive branch of government should examine the documents until the question of returning the material to Jefferson is resolved on appeal.
Hogan's latest ruling also can be appealed.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has directed that any review of documents by the filter team not begin until July 27 to give judges time to consider Jefferson's call for a delay.
The appeal of the decision that the search was legal could take several months, the Justice Department has said in arguing against the delay.
Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., leaves the White House, Tuesday, July 11, 2006, after attending a meeting. An FBI raid on Jefferson's Capitol Hill office was legal, a federal judge ruled Monday. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas F. Hogan said members of Congress are not above the law. He rejected requests from Jefferson to return material seized by the FBI in a May 20-21 search of Jefferson's office. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
Do I detect one heck of alot of political squirming here?? (chuckle)
Remember in any discussion of this event the FBI search of a Congressional office on Capitol Hill was UNPRECEDENTED in the history of the Republic.
FBI agents load the back of a minivan at the Rayburn House Office Building 'horseshoe' entrance on Capitol Hill in Washington after continuing their of the offices of Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., in the May 21, 2006 file photo. Prosecutors and investigators building a bribery case against Jefferson have been unable to examine the documents and computer files seized in the search of Capitol Hill office. The materials were placed off limits for 45 days by President Bush, who decreed a cooling-off period after congressional leaders denounced the May 20-21 search as an unprecedented and unconstitutional intrusion on their turf by federal agents. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke, File)
U.S. Representative William Jefferson (D-LA) is seen in this June 1, 2006 file photo. A federal judge on Monday upheld the FBI's unprecedented search of the office of Jefferson, a Louisiana Democrat who is the target of a bribery investigation. (Lee Celano/Reuters)
Maybe they need FReezer reform in Congre$$... or a limit on how much cold hard cash one can keep in one's office. ;-)
Is this guy running for re-election?
The Congressional Black Caucus has some real winners. McKinney punches policemen and this idiot hides dubiously-acquired money in his freezer. Where does that kind of thinking come from?
For a man with nothing to hide, my man, Jefferson is doing a lot of slipping and sliding. Too bad back years ago they didnt investigate Murtha this hard after the ABScam trials. the greatest thing is that this has shut pelosi up with her Corruption charges. Now if we could just figure a way so she could close her eyes.
Impossible: They've been stuck open after one too many face-lifts.
I'm sure Mr. Jefferson made a significant contribution to that meeting at the White House.
He was there to, what, inspect the freezer in the White House Mess?
Congress.
Meanwhile, the Washington DC public utility reports a sudden surge in the demand for electricity and the trash disposal service reports over flowing dumpsters filled with shredded files.
I can picture the meetings when he first became a Congresscritter... *pictures a smoke filled bar scene with Kennedy talking to Jefferson (D-LA)* "...and the beauty of it is that you can hide anything in your office and they can't touch you!"
How soon before Pelosi sends Lantos to give him some advice?
Just another DC crook....what's up with these people? OH, I know...they're above the laws that us peons' are under.
The materials placed on a 45 day ‘cooling off period’ by President Bush are long gone. I think Attorney General Alberto Gonzales new directive that any review of documents by the filter team not begin until July 27 to give judges time to consider Jefferson's call for a delay is a baaaaad move. Jefferson should remove himself from government – he won’t so the Ethics Committee should get the job done….the man is a disgrace.
He will no doubt run again. I firmly believe, if it were legal , that my La. brethren would re-elect the imprisoned Edwin Edwards as Governor.
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