Posted on 02/16/2007 5:39:03 PM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record), who stripped embattled Rep. William Jefferson (news, bio, voting record) of his seat on a powerful tax committee last year, has decided to put him on the Homeland Security panel, infuriating some Republicans who charge he may be a security risk.
Jefferson, a Louisiana Democrat, was kicked off the Ways and Means Committee amid a federal bribery probe, yet still won re-election to a ninth term.
Pelosi is giving him a seat on the panel after Jefferson was outspoken in his criticism of the homeland security agencies that responded to Hurricane Katrina. His appointment must still be formally approved by the rest of the House Democrats.
The decision immediately came under fire from the top Republican on the committee, Rep. Peter King (news, bio, voting record).
"It sends a terrible message," King, R-N.Y., said Friday. "They couldn't trust him to write tax policy, so why should he be given access to our nation's top secrets or making policy for national defense?"
"Members of the committee have access to intelligence secrets, plots here in the country, overseas, and people under suspicion. This shows how unimportant the Democrats think homeland security is," King said.
Jefferson's chief of staff, Eugene Green, called King's criticism "ridiculous and just politics."
"Representing New Orleans as he does, we're very concerned as to what happened in the wake of Hurricane Katrina," said Green. "It's just natural for the congressman to serve his constituents on a committee of this nature."
Jefferson, 59, is the subject of a federal investigation into whether he accepted bribes related to a telecommunications deal in Africa. The FBI's evidence against him includes $90,000 found in his freezer — fodder for late-night talk show jokes — but not funny to Pelosi, who had promised to run the most ethical Congress in history.
Pelosi stripped Jefferson of his seat on the Ways and Means Committee over objections from some members of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Meanwhile, the FBI's raid of Jefferson's congressional office ran afoul of lawmakers; Pelosi and then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert succeeded in having the seized material sealed, where it remains pending the outcome of Jefferson's legal challenge.
Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., left, with his wife Andrea Jefferson, shakes hands with a supporter at his victory party in New Orleans in this Dec. 9, 2006, file photo. A former stockholder in a technology company sued Jefferson, his wife and a former business associate Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007, claiming they bilked stockholders by using business funds to pay bribes. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, file)
I think it is great. He will fall farther and harder when convicted.
The fact he's a Democrat and from Louisiana would make him suspect in my book - regardless of his little "cash in the fridge" issue.
Vernon Jackson, former chief executive of the telecommunications firm iGate, leaves the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va., in this May 3, 2006, file photo. A former stockholder in a technology company sued Jackson, Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., and his wife Andrea G. Jefferson, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007, claiming they bilked stockholders by using business funds to pay bribes. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones, file)
Is it too much to ask that most Republicans be infuriated, and call a press conference at the Capitol to say so? The RATS do it all the time, but the Stupid Party apparently is too busy deferring.
More on William 'Cold Ca$h' Jefferson.
I've said this many times before, but it's worth repeating.
When a Republican get caught in a scandal, he's shown the
door and may even see a cell.
When a Democrat is caught up in scandal, not only does he
stay in office, but he's usually promoted as well.
It's as if scandal is an astute career move for Democrats.
....JJ61
It makes one wonder what Hastert had in his office, that he would have gone to the wall for this Democrat grifter.
HAHAHAHAH!!! I swear, the Democrat-ick Party is for DUMB people!! Who besides the dumb would belong to it?
First new tax law out of committee - freezer cash is exempt.
Well, sure. Why not? He's a natural for the Homeland Security Committee. As we all know, he's been known to work closely with the National Guard.
Some? How about ALL? What the hell is going on? How can someone found with $90,000 in his freezer be allowed on the Homeland Security panel?
Where's Jack Bauer when ya need him? This sleazeball has to be stopped from having access to any Top Secret stuff. jmo
Classified material, nothing. What about the petty cash?
>>>According to court records filed in the plea deal, Jefferson helped secure a deal with a Nigerian company called Netlink Digital Television and in return demanded payments to a company maintained in the name of his wife and children.<<<
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NetLink is head-end software for controlling devices using a companion Philips iTV Smart Card. Philips iTV Smart cards enable your RS232 capable devices to have an IP address and be remotely operated using Webpavement's NetLink software.
NetLink is a Philips certified software tool that -for now- automates Philips commercial television networks. It's similar to having every television's remote-control installed on your computer. Scheduling or manually turning on / off devices, changing channels, setting volume levels is now at your fingertips with NetLink.
In the future, this product will automate your commercial and home environment. You'll have the ability to schedule your oven, sprinkler systems, security systems and more.
NetLink software is installed on a Windows 2000 or Windows XP PC for accessing the bevy of commands included in Philips' commercial displays.
* Schedule Anything @ Any Time * Group your network into a logical tree format * Power on / off * Switch Video Sources * Change CATV Channel * Mute or adjust volume levels * many other features are available - see the user manual for advanced features
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From DUBAInetlink
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LOOK AT THE GRAPH, RFID! His business is/was involved with all the VeriChip microchips!
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See! NetLink and Verichip!
>>>e-mail : sheryl.serrao@netlinkblrm.com<<<< Netlink
Excerpt:
VeriChip Corporation's RFID Technology Prevents Infant Abduction at North Carolina Hospital
DELRAY BEACH, Fla.-- July 18, 2005-- VeriChip Corporation, a subsidiary of Applied Digital , a leading provider of security and identification technology, announced today that its "Hugs" RFID infant protection ...
copyright© Wirelessdevnet.com, Mon, 18 Jul 2005
Public Relations Contact:
Sheryl Serrao
level 23, emirates towers.
p.o. box 504909, dubai - uae.
tel : +971-4-330-4433
fax : +971-4-330-1456
e-mail : sheryl.serrao@netlinkblrm.com
They really missed being the minority party for 12 years. May as well bring back Bob Michel.
"bring back Bob Michel." Yep, that's just about where we are.
Kudos to Peter King for slamming the Rats on this one.
bump
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