Posted on 05/28/2006 2:16:26 PM PDT by FairOpinion
The FBI is focusing on at least eight different suspected bribery schemes as part of its corruption probe of Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.), according to a federal affidavit and sources familiar with the investigation.
A key part of the FBI probe has centered around Jefferson's dealings with a Louisville high-tech company, iGate Inc., that was marketing broadband technology for the Internet and cable television in Africa.
But an affidavit used in last weekend's controversial search of Jefferson's Capitol Hill office stated that authorities are looking at "at least seven other" bribery schemes in which Jefferson "sought things of value in return for his performance of official acts."
....
In early January 2004, NDTV canceled the deal with iGate. An Aug. 3 raid on Jefferson's apartment turned up a letter from NDTV's law firm concluding that "Jefferson, Vernon Jackson" and others had violated Nigerian laws.
The letter also stated: "I have also attached a list of your bank accounts through which you insisted that money be paid (which it was) to you in relation to the iGate-NDTV transaction."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I hope the Republicans just stay out of it.
Ripping off people in third world countries. Nice.
I hope the media stays on top of him - libs should be fuming but won't.
Libs won't.
Taking advantage of people of color for political and monetary gain is perfectly fine by libs.
Even, ironically, by a Dim of color as is Jefferson (D-La).
You mean, besides real foil-wrapped green, we get more stupid politician tricks?
15 billion in AIDS money?
He's Black! He will get away with it faster than Cynthia McKinney can b!tch slap a cop!
From your keyboard to God's ears!
RACE CARD! Waaaah!
Mac Ranger has been hinting that there are possible connections to Joe Wilson and Rep William Jefferson (bribery scandal). Turns out there may be. Recall that Joe Wilson was running his own international business consulting firm when the CIA asked him twice (through his wife) to visit Niger in 1999 and 2002. He went again in 2000 when the military coup d’etat had been supllanted with a democratic government. His business was representing these governments to assist them in getting lucrative business opportuities.
With that in mind, note this news on the ever expanding Rep Jefferson probe (which somehow the Conrgessional Reps were able to jump on the wrong side of instantly):
The FBI is focusing on at least eight different suspected bribery schemes as part of its corruption probe of Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.), according to a federal affidavit and sources familiar with the investigation.
…
Federal authorities have alleged in court documents that Jefferson took more than $500,000 in bribes in exchange for using his official position to promote iGate’s technology in Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon.
…
The affidavit discloses an alleged scheme in which Jefferson introduced officials from Netlink Digital Television (NDTV), a Nigerian company, to Jackson.NDTV agreed to pay iGate nearly $45 million for the right to use its technology and to distribute it in Nigeria. The affidavit alleges that Jefferson, without iGate’s knowledge, separately negotiated with NDTV officials to receive $5 for each subscriber in “return for Jefferson’s official assistance if the deal was successful.”
More here on the NDTV scheme. Some news from Nigeria here. I will have to dig into this later in the weekend. But two more links are important: one is regarding the man who coordinated President Clinton’s trip to Africa in 1998 (one Joe Wilson) and two where we learn of one Lousianna Congressman who was also on the trip to Africa with Clinton and Wilson:
Jefferson and two other members who traveled with Clinton to Africa called a news conference to announce their support for an idea by Jesse Jackson, the president’s special envoy to Africa, for a museum dedicated to slavery in Washington.
Interest and joint travel to Africa do not make a conspiracy or demonstrate guilt. Guilt is a multi-part characteristic which includes ‘opportuntiy’. We shall see if there was motivation in any of this, let alone some hard evidence. Right now it is simply coincidence. But Mac and I seem to be interested in what one Atiku Abubakar may say now that he too has been ’searched’ by the FBI.
Update: Seems Nigerian VP Atiku has some personal ties to the investigation since it appears his wife was just indicted by the US with regards to Jefferson:
VICE-PRESIDENT Atiku Abubakar’s wife, Jennifer, has been indicted in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe of US Congressman, William Jefferson, over bribery involving a transnational tele-communications deal. Jennifer resides in the Potomac, Maryland home of Atiku which was raided on August 3, 2005, by the FBI in connection with the bribery investigation.
In a report on Tuesday, the FBI revealed that a taped conversation between Jefferson and a wired Mody saw the embattled American lawmaker describing Jennifer as a “front”. Jefferson told Mody that the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Gede Foundation, being operated in Washington by Jennifer, was a front, being used to channel illegal funds by the Atiku family.
Want to know how bad this is going to get? Bribery is one thing. Hiding bribery and corruption behind humanitarian aid is the lowest of low:
Gede Foundation, according to the founder, was to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
[...]"In a recorded conversation, Jefferson said that a top Nigerian official was scheduled to arrive in Washington shortly. Jefferson described him as a businessman “who has more deals than the man in the moon” and “he’s a very well, the word might be… corrupt.” The official, Jefferson later said, could be bribed by funnelling money through a charitable foundation run by the official’s wife, which Jefferson called a “front”.
How low can these people be? I guess we will be finding out.
Not a chance. Already involved. Including President Bush.
dotsping
One 'military' Representative screaming bloody murder ping....
I think this POS Jefferson is going down and gonna do hard time, it looks like the Feds have him nailed.
This is an interesting take in this blog regarding Wilson and Jefferson; thanks for the mail about this, Dog:
has been hinting that there are possible connections to Joe Wilson and Rep William Jefferson (bribery scandal). Turns out there may be. Recall that Joe Wilson was running his own international business consulting firm when the CIA asked him twice (through his wife) to visit Niger in 1999 and 2002. He went again in 2000 when the military coup d’etat had been supllanted with a democratic government. His business was representing these governments to assist them in getting lucrative business opportuities.
With that in mind, note this news on the ever expanding Rep Jefferson probe (which somehow the Conrgessional Reps were able to jump on the wrong side of instantly):
The FBI is focusing on at least eight different suspected bribery schemes as part of its corruption probe of Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.), according to a federal affidavit and sources familiar with the investigation.
…
Federal authorities have alleged in court documents that Jefferson took more than $500,000 in bribes in exchange for using his official position to promote iGate’s technology in Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon.
…
The affidavit discloses an alleged scheme in which Jefferson introduced officials from Netlink Digital Television (NDTV), a Nigerian company, to Jackson.
NDTV agreed to pay iGate nearly $45 million for the right to use its technology and to distribute it in Nigeria. The affidavit alleges that Jefferson, without iGate’s knowledge, separately negotiated with NDTV officials to receive $5 for each subscriber in “return for Jefferson’s official assistance if the deal was successful.”
More here on the NDTV scheme. Some news from Nigeria here. I will have to dig into this later in the weekend. But two more links are important: one is regarding the man who coordinated President Clinton’s trip to Africa in 1998 (one Joe Wilson) and two where we learn of one Lousianna Congressman who was also on the trip to Africa with Clinton and Wilson:
Jefferson and two other members who traveled with Clinton to Africa called a news conference to announce their support for an idea by Jesse Jackson, the president’s special envoy to Africa, for a museum dedicated to slavery in Washington.
Interest and joint travel to Africa do not make a conspiracy or demonstrate guilt. Guilt is a multi-part characteristic which includes ‘opportuntiy’. We shall see if there was motivation in any of this, let alone some hard evidence. Right now it is simply coincidence. But Mac and I seem to be interested in what one Atiku Abubakar may say now that he too has been ’searched’ by the FBI.
Update: Seems Nigerian VP Atiku has some personal ties to the investigation since it appears his wife was just indicted by the US with regards to Jefferson:
VICE-PRESIDENT Atiku Abubakar’s wife, Jennifer, has been indicted in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe of US Congressman, William Jefferson, over bribery involving a transnational tele-communications deal. Jennifer resides in the Potomac, Maryland home of Atiku which was raided on August 3, 2005, by the FBI in connection with the bribery investigation.
In a report on Tuesday, the FBI revealed that a taped conversation between Jefferson and a wired Mody saw the embattled American lawmaker describing Jennifer as a “front”. Jefferson told Mody that the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Gede Foundation, being operated in Washington by Jennifer, was a front, being used to channel illegal funds by the Atiku family.
Want to know how bad this is going to get? Bribery is one thing. Hiding bribery and corruption behind humanitarian aid is the lowest of low:
Gede Foundation, according to the founder, was to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
…
“In a recorded conversation, Jefferson said that a top Nigerian official was scheduled to arrive in Washington shortly. Jefferson described him as a businessman “who has more deals than the man in the moon” and “he’s a very well, the word might be… corrupt.” The official, Jefferson later said, could be bribed by funnelling money through a charitable foundation run by the official’s wife, which Jefferson called a “front”.
How low can these people be? I guess we will be finding out.
The above has links in it that didn't copy but can be found here:
http://www.strata-sphere.com/blog/
Rep. Jefferson and Joseph Wilson.
CROOK!
This is BIG.
As a freeer told me in a freepmail..this is...BIG. HUMONGOUSLY BIG.
You know my fingers are crossed. I'm not a patient person...but the president is.
I hope so!
Jefferson is walking around very cooly. He ain't panicking. This tells me he knows names and he could name names. This is Washington not Arkansas, in Bill Clinton's Arkansas a man like this would be a dead man quicker than Jerry Parks can open his car doors on a deserted country road. In Washington there has not been a political whacking since Vince Foster, unless you count Chandra Levy and Mary Mahoney, and Betty Curry's brother and a few others on Alamo Girls Legacy List which are different kind of stories, I guess. One politician blackmailing another is the coin of the realm in that stinking swamp of corruption called Washington. I say the man with last name of Jefferson is playing his criminality off the criminality of others just like the politician with the middle name of Jefferson did, when the boys and girls in the Senate gave him a free pass.
As the House majority party they have to insist on rules that protect that institution's privilege.
Reasonable rules for searches will not help Jefferson at all.
I think there is much more to the Jefferson investigation than even this story hints at. A "Mr. or Mrs. Big". Something really extraordinary has to be behind the unparalleled aggressivenes of the Justice Department.
Who is Betty Curries brother ...got a name?
Don't be silly Jaz, this is william jefferson, DEMONRAT, Louisiana you're talking about.
He will walk AND remain in CONgress. Just like Mrs. BJ Klintoon, Cindi mcKinny, Teddy and his boy, j F k, Mu'tha, Schmuker...and the list goes on.
Theodore Williams, Jr. was Betty Currie's brother. He died in a car accident and Clinton called Monica to tell her that and to tell her she was being called as a witness in the Jones case.
LOL...You make a lotta good points and you're right about the Dem thing but I don't know how he's going to explain away the 90 grand on ice or the tape of him recieving it. I got a good feeling about it, picture him in stripes. :-)
FReeper Grampa Dave has been bird-dogging non-profits as corrupt entities involved in US politics.
The IRS is also tracking corrupt foundations and the many ways they enrich themselves while evading tax laws.
"Yoo-hoo Cong Jefferson, soon the IRS will be knocking on your door."
Thanks! I needed that! ;*)
Thanks!
I hope we see a few indictments handed down soon on Jefferson...
Clinton protecting some campaign funding from nigerians would explain some things, like why Clinton never pursued the Nigerian uranium connection to Iraq and why he allowed france to run rampant with saddam.
I'd bet my hat he'll have some company. Murtha's not screaming like a stuck pig for nothing.
Thanks for the ping, freema.
Let's make sure we don't confuse Niger (Wilson) and Nigeria (Jefferson).
That said, I guess I need to remind myself that these are people who associate with the Clintons. There is no depth too low for them. :-/
Pinz
You know what will REALLY be interesting in these investigations?
Jefferson's businesses used Multi Level Marketing.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1635819/posts?page=27#27
see 'Shareasale' at my link.
MLM is big in sponsoring immigrants to this country.
He is busy counting blood diamonds.
I'll have to dig in tomorrow, watching We Were Soldiers...CBS is airing it. Couldn't read the book, don't know if I can watch the movie. Brain is in meltdown. They just left 'home'. Bawling like a baby.
I own the movie and book.
Chat latter.
Wait a minute - he ripped off people in Negeria?
Wow, a twofer! This is getting better all the time.
Theodore Williams, Betty Currie's brother, Beaten before Betty's Senate testimony then Car/Pedestrian Accident during Monica story(Key Witness' brother)
You can find it here.
http://alamo-girl.com/0363.htm
I wonder if Jefferson had any other buddies that helped him pull this stunt off
Excellent points.
I hope the FBI keeps investigating and finds all his partners in crime -- preferably right before the November elections. This guy couldn't have pulled it all off on his own, for sure.
Why should some cable subscriber in nigeria have to pay an extra $5 for jefferson's corruption? Makes no sense, hope the guy swings along with his cronies.
I have the book, stole it from my brother ; ) Never could get past the first few pages. I have a tendency to leave my wall UP. Made it thru the movie.
Thanks for the ping
Damnit, use a smaller brush!!!
Joe Wilson ping
The GOP snatched defeat from the jaws of victory on this one. They had a chance to just sit back and let the Rats twist in th win on this one and they screwed up AGAIN.
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