Posted on 06/24/2009 6:28:01 AM PDT by Libloather
iGate exec says he feared retribution during William Jefferson corruption trial testimony
by Bruce Alpert and Jonathan Tilove, The Times-Picayune
Tuesday June 23, 2009, 9:51 PM
ALEXANDRIA, VA. -- Ending his five days of testimony Tuesday, a Kentucky telecommunications executive said he feared ending an arrangement in which he provided payments and stock to a company controlled by former Rep. William Jefferson's wife because he had read what happened to a college administrator who tried to fire Andrea Jefferson from an academic post.
**SNIP**
Jefferson's lawyer Robert Trout, who said he hopes he doesn't have to take the time to disprove the allegations of Jefferson's political interference, said to Jackson, "I take it you don't believe everything you read in the newspaper."
"You are right there, sir, " Jackson replied.
$300,000 plus stock
In his hours of testimony, Jackson, 58, dressed in a green prison jumpsuit with the word "prisoner" stenciled in white on the back, testified that he provided Andrea Jefferson's company, the ANJ Group, with more than $300,000 and millions of shares in his Kentucky telecommunications company in order to get the congressman's help brokering business deals in Western Africa.
Jackson said he believed Jefferson was using his official office to get meetings with top elected officials in Nigeria and elsewhere to win potentially lucrative contracts to develop Internet and cable services through existing copper wires.
At times, Jackson talked about Jefferson using his congressional office, even when the question didn't deal with that topic. In almost every instance, he referred to Jefferson as "U.S. Congressman William Jefferson, " emphasizing his official role.
Jefferson's defense team describes the allegations as centering on private business deals not covered by the federal bribery statutes.
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
Does it taint the jury to have the fella in a prison jump suit?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.