GUILTY!
Posted on 05/26/2009 7:18:30 PM PDT by Libloather
Prosecutors get favorable ruling in William Jefferson case
by Bruce Alpert
The Times-Picayune
Tuesday May 26, 2009, 4:58 PM
WASHINGTON -- Federal prosecutors will not be required as part of their bribery case against former Rep. William Jefferson, D-New Orleans, to prove he sought payments in return for decisions he made as a member of Congress, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Judge T.S. Ellis III said "it is sufficient for the government to adduce proof, including expert testimony or evidence of defendant's admissions and conduct, that it was customary for members of Congress in defendant's position to exert influence -- by advice, recommendation or otherwise, on the issues in question."
Ellis' ruling came one week before Jefferson is scheduled face trial in Alexandria, Va., on 16 charges including bribery, racketeering, and honest services fraud.
The issue of what constitutes "official acts" is important because Jefferson has argued that the violations of the bribery statute as alleged by the Justice Department aren't applicable to his circumstances.
The indictment accuses him of seeking and in some cases receiving payments to family-owned businesses in exchange for exerting influence with African government leaders on various business projects. His lawyers argue that is not part of his official duties as a congressman -- such as voting or introducing legislation.
**SNIP**
Allowing such arguments, lead prosecutor Mark Lytle said in a brief last week, would confuse the jury. He argued that Jefferson had his congressional office arrange travel to some of the African nations where he sought to influence leaders, and sent out letters on congressional stationery supporting projects in Western Africa.
But Jefferson's lawyers said that "what the government seeks is an order that the jury can only hear its side of the story."
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
GUILTY!
He was found with marked money in his freezer... as I understand it, money that was marked by the FBI by someone who told them he was asking for a bribe. It sounds very open/shut to me.
Though I could see that there could be trouble if it was planted there.
I must be really tired. I do not understand what this means."
NOT when the accused is a black Democrat.
Justice is supposed to be OBJECTIVE, whether you are rich or poor, politically connected or “one of the little people,” hold mainline political beliefs or hold marginalized political beliefs, act prudently or foolishly, are man or woman, freeman or subject, or even [ultimately] Citizen or not should NOT be a factor in determining guilt or innocence unless the law specifically requires it. (As in only a Natural Born citizen can LEGALLY be the US’s President.)
I'm guess you also believe in the Easter Bunny too...
< /sarcasm>
>>”Justice is supposed to be OBJECTIVE”...
>
>I’m guess you also believe in the Easter Bunny too...< /sarcasm>
If by “easter bunny” you are referring to the risen Lord Jesus Christ then yes.
I didn’t say our “justice system” _was_ concerned with Justice, did I?
Just that the government need not prove an association between the bribe and a **specific** promise.
Recently - it seems “justice” in THIS life is determined more by finances, race, political party or organization than by guilt or innocence.
Personally - I would rather witness in THIS life the swift and equal application of “justice” under the laws we all acknowledge as applying, than wait for the presumed “justice” in another life.
>Once again - I’ll guess you didn’t see my sarcasm tag...
I did see it, and replied with a little of my own (read the if-statement).
>Recently - it seems “justice” in THIS life is determined more by finances, race, political party or organization than by guilt or innocence.
Bingo. That is the [serious] topic that I was getting at, it needs to be addressed and not treated like the proverbial 300-pound gorilla in the room.
>Personally - I would rather witness in THIS life the swift and equal application of “justice” under the laws we all acknowledge as applying, than wait for the presumed “justice” in another life.
Micah 6:8 - Part of man’s responsibility is to DO justly; the other two are to love mercy and walk humbly with God. One thing that many fail to realize is that w/o justice mercy cannot exist; it is merely the perpetuation of injustice. (That is the reason that we must _DO_ justice.)
Justice w/o empathy though is a harsh, harsh thing; this is why we must love mercy.
Finally, by walking humbly with God we are mindful (and thankful/grateful) of our God-given rights, and recognize that those rights also apply to other people; that by devaluing another’s right we devalue our own right as well, this is because they are the SAME right.
There was a time - when we decided how to deliver the "justice" we sought - and the "harsher" and more horrifying, the better.
We knew there would be no mercy and granting mercy never entered our minds.
For old unrepentant warriors to enter Heaven must be as difficult as passing a camel through the eye of a needle.
War is war. It is neither just nor unjust in itself.; yet how you handle yourself may be just or unjust.
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