Posted on 01/15/2006 8:59:58 AM PST by Libloather
Jefferson 'perplexed' by aide's guilty plea; says he did no wrong
By: CHEVEL JOHNSON - Associated Press
Last modified Friday, January 13, 2006 10:32 PM PST
Louisiana Congressman, William Jefferson, D-New Orleans, left, and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, appear before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Housing and Community Development meeting in New Orleans Friday afternoon Jan. 13, 2006. The subcommittee came to New Orleans to discussing the housing problems caused by Hurricane Katrina. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)
NEW ORLEANS -- Two days after his former aide's guilty plea implicated him in a bribery case, Rep. William Jefferson said Friday he has done nothing wrong and was perplexed by the plea.
Jefferson, D-La., answered no questions about Brett Pfeffer's plea. He made a brief statement to reporters while in his hometown for a meeting of a congressional subcommittee gathering information on housing options for hurricane victims.
"I'm disappointed and in some ways perplexed by this development," Jefferson said.
"I've been in public life for 25 years. I have never required, demanded, or accepted on behalf of myself or my family or any third party anything to perform a service for which I've been elected. I wish I could be more forthcoming."
It was his first public statement on Pfeffer's plea Wednesday.
The former aide said a congressman demanded bribes in exchange for his assistance in brokering two African telecommunications deals. Court documents make clear that Jefferson is the accused congressman without specifically naming him.
Pfeffer, 37, pleaded guilty Wednesday to aiding and abetting bribery of a public official and conspiracy. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison at sentencing, set for March 31 in a federal court in Virginia.
Jefferson has not been charged with a crime. He represents most of New Orleans, including sections of the city that were hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina.
Key Democrat says Jefferson no exception
Anti-corruption push to be even-handed
Friday, January 13, 2006
By Bruce Alpert
Washington bureau
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that the ongoing criminal probe of Rep. William Jefferson, D-New Orleans, wouldn't hurt party efforts to wage a fall campaign that promises to clean up the "Republican culture of corruption."
But Jefferson's legal difficulties clearly muddied the Democratic message. Six of reporters' questions at Pelosi's Capitol news conference Thursday centered on the guilty plea Wednesday by a former Jefferson aide on charges of aiding and abetting bribery of a public official and conspiracy.
Jefferson isn't named in the federal plea bargain, but other documents indicate he is at the center of the ongoing investigation.
When asked directly whether the Jefferson probe makes it harder to campaign on an anti-corruption theme in this fall's midterm elections, Pelosi, a California Democrat, said:
"We have said all along, 'If Democrat or Republican, anyone who does not follow the rules, and the law, has to be held accountable.'
"That is the difference between us."
That Nancy is one nutty democrat. I have found the more they talk the discredited they are. Keep talking Miss Nancy.
Looks like we are soon to be treated to the "perplexed' defense.
Still waiting for the MSM to cover this. Or is there another standard for black Democrats?
One would think a known former Klansman would be ejected from the party before too much preaching transpired.
One would think a man who failed to report a fatal accident for about ten hours while the female in his car (not his wife) drowned, would be ejected from the party before too much preaching transpired.
One would think those who leaked national security secrets would be ejected from the democrats midst, before too much preaching transpired.
Nancy, you're clueless!
I wonder how Pelosi would try to explain the SUNO-Andrea Jefferson thing as Republican corruption.
Come on Katie Couric! Take the lead with the Mollohan story and break that baby WIDE-OPEN! Some fake documents would be a nice touch!
MSM: America's source for lies.
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