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Mr. Cold, Hard Cash Strikes Again (William Jefferson Alert)
Roll Call ^ | 1/4/2007 | Mary Ann Akers

Posted on 01/05/2007 11:48:33 AM PST by markomalley

On only the fourth day of the new year, we’ve decided that the 2007 “Some Nerve!” award goes to ... Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.).

You might think that a guy who’s still the subject of a federal bribery investigation would be more careful than to use taxpayer resources to raise campaign money. But nope, not Jefferson. And heck, he still hasn’t provided us with that “honorable explanation” he promised for the bizarro (and alleged) $90,000 in cash federal agents confiscated from a freezer in his Capitol Hill home.

Last week, House Democrats were shocked to receive a letter from Jefferson — on his official Congressional stationery, no less — asking colleagues to donate money to help him retire his campaign debt.

“As you know,” the letter, dated Dec. 29, 2006, began, “I recently won a grueling race for re-election.” (And won resoundingly in a runoff, despite the ongoing federal probe in which two people have already pleaded guilty.) “In order to get our message out and otherwise compete, we incurred over $200,000 in debt.

“Therefore, I would deeply appreciate it if you would assist me in retiring my debt by contributing $1,000 (or whatever amount you can afford) to my campaign,” Jefferson wrote.

Nice letter. Too bad it violates House ethics rules. It’s a no-no to use taxpayer resources to raise campaign dough.

Some Democratic aides were downright aghast at Jefferson’s audacity at using franked envelopes, official letterhead and the House internal mail service in a blatant violation of House rules.

“We were going to send him a check in a freezer bag,” joked one chief of staff to a Democratic Member of Congress who received Jefferson’s solicitation.

Another, only slightly snarkier, Democratic House chief of staff pitched in with: “He’s got $90,000 in his freezer, why can’t he buy some stationery and stamps?” (Answer: Because the Feds took the money!) The chief of staff added, “Some people will never learn. Can’t he go away already?”

Jefferson, who has not been indicted (yet) in the bribery scandal, sent out the letter by mistake, according to his office. His staff apparently meant to use campaign stationery, but instead used the boss’s “Congress of the United States” letterhead, which, by the way, still lists Jefferson as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Remember, Jefferson’s own Democratic colleagues voted overwhelmingly to kick him off the committee last summer after the FBI claimed it had videotaped the Congressman accepting $100,000 in marked bills from an informant. And now Jefferson has the gumption to write them and ask for money?

Jefferson’s spokeswoman, Melanie Russell, told HOH that the Congressman himself was unaware of the boo-boo until she went to him with our request for comment. “It’s news to him,” she sighed.

“It was just a tremendous — tremendous — staff error,” she said. “We are contacting the appropriate committees to apologize and rectify the situation.”

We presume that will involve the cash-strapped Jefferson campaign reimbursing the House Franking Commission for the costs involved in sending the fundraising solicitation.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Government; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: coldcash; corruptdemocrat
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Ethics...hallmark of the DemocRATS /sarc
1 posted on 01/05/2007 11:48:34 AM PST by markomalley
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To: markomalley
Why do we never hear in addition to all this that this is the guy who mis-appropriated a National Guard truck and crew to go "rescue" his money?

Someone may have died in their absence, while the Guard did his crooked bidding.

2 posted on 01/05/2007 11:51:26 AM PST by grobdriver (Let the embeds check the bodies!)
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To: markomalley

depends on what the definition of is, is.


3 posted on 01/05/2007 11:53:08 AM PST by beansox
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To: markomalley
Some Democratic aides were downright aghast at Jefferson’s audacity at using franked envelopes, official letterhead and the House internal mail service in a blatant violation of House rules.

Oh, please ... give me a break!

4 posted on 01/05/2007 11:55:04 AM PST by Malone LaVeigh
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To: markomalley
Only in America.

Well, on second thought, this kind of crap has happened many times throughout history. I just thought it wouldn't happen here. I must remember, corrupt government is corrupt government no matter where it happens. It's happening right here in our failing Republic.......

Guess I was naive.........

FMCDH(BITS)

5 posted on 01/05/2007 12:00:47 PM PST by nothingnew (I fear for my Republic due to marxist influence in our government. Open eyes/see)
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To: markomalley

This article did NOT state that this same man, that is being made fun of by Democrat staffers, got a STANDING OVATION by the Cong. Black Caucus yesterday....

whick tells me, his behaviour is approved by at least SOME Congresscritters.


6 posted on 01/05/2007 12:01:25 PM PST by Txsleuth (FREEPATHON TIME--Please become a monthly or dollar a day donor!!)
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To: markomalley
Nice letter. Too bad it violates House ethics rules. It’s a no-no to use taxpayer resources to raise campaign dough.

It seems there could be a correlation between Jefferson's brain and a box of rocks. As for his staff making the mistake, he hired them.

7 posted on 01/05/2007 12:07:45 PM PST by jazusamo (http://warchronicle.com/TheyAreNotKillers/DefendOurMarines.htm)
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To: markomalley

Didn't stop the congressional black caucus from giving jefferson a standing ovation yesterday.


8 posted on 01/05/2007 12:08:34 PM PST by OldFriend (THE PRESS IS AN EVIL FOR WHICH THERE IS NO REMEDY)
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To: markomalley

If they weren't playing with our very survival, having the RATs in power might be amusing.


9 posted on 01/05/2007 12:09:08 PM PST by NonValueAdded (Saddam is Dead! Bush's Fault. [Pray for our patriot brother, 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub.])
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To: OldFriend

"“It was just a tremendous — tremendous — staff error,” she said. “We are contacting the appropriate committees to apologize and rectify the situation.” "

Then they should all be fired immediately and brought up on federal charges...

HAHAHA.... That was pretty funny.


10 posted on 01/05/2007 12:12:10 PM PST by EQAndyBuzz ("Give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted." Lenin)
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To: markomalley
“We were going to send him a check in a freezer bag,” joked one chief of staff to a Democratic Member of Congress who received Jefferson’s solicitation.

Now THAT's funny.

11 posted on 01/05/2007 12:13:36 PM PST by Non-Sequitur
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To: markomalley

Nice start for "The most Ethical Congress in History".........


12 posted on 01/05/2007 12:15:45 PM PST by Red Badger (New! HeadOn Hemorrhoid Medication for Liberals!.........Apply directly to forehead.........)
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To: markomalley

MSM still too busy sniffing peloosie's skirt to pay attention to substance.


13 posted on 01/05/2007 12:16:36 PM PST by OldFriend (THE PRESS IS AN EVIL FOR WHICH THERE IS NO REMEDY)
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To: markomalley

No wonder the Congressional Black Caucus gave him a standing ovation yesterday.


14 posted on 01/05/2007 12:32:15 PM PST by Retired Chemist
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To: markomalley
Mr. Cold, Hard Cash Strikes Again (William Jefferson Alert)

Well, it was found in a freezer. :O)

15 posted on 01/05/2007 12:50:52 PM PST by jdm
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To: markomalley

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2007/01/frankly_jefferson.html


16 posted on 01/05/2007 12:51:21 PM PST by the Real fifi
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To: Retired Chemist

His protective melanin immunizes him from criticism, discipline and perhaps indictment.


17 posted on 01/05/2007 12:51:23 PM PST by Salvey (ancest)
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To: markomalley
"We presume that will involve the cash-strapped Jefferson campaign reimbursing the House Franking Commission..."...thereby putting him even further into debt and necessitating another fundraising letter on government stationery.
18 posted on 01/05/2007 12:59:42 PM PST by Past Your Eyes (Some people are too stupid to be ashamed.)
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To: markomalley

Hey, Nancy, princess big talk on ethics--we want action, we want action. Oh, that's right--TALKING about democratic ethics IS action to you.


19 posted on 01/05/2007 12:59:53 PM PST by freeangel ( (free speech is only good until someone else doesn't like what you say))
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To: markomalley

And in the words of Don Surber:
"Forget that investigation of Mollohan. He now chairs the subcommittee that oversees the FBI budget. Some swamps are drained, others are protected wetlands.

Murtha chairs the subcommittee overlooking the defense budget. His brother will be lining up the suitors on K Street."


20 posted on 01/05/2007 1:05:16 PM PST by the Real fifi
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