William Jefferson RAT-La faces decision on whether to testify (PICS!)

NOLA ^ | 7/20/09 | Jonathan Tilove

[Libloather]

William Jefferson faces decision on whether to testify
by Jonathan Tilove, The Times-Picayune
Monday July 20, 2009, 9:21 PM

WASHINGTON -- William Jefferson and his legal team now face the most difficult and fateful decision of his trial: whether the former nine-term Democratic congressman from New Orleans should take the stand in his own defense.

"It's the last decision you make, " said James Neal, a prominent Nashville, Tenn., defense attorney. "It's just a terrible decision to make because the case then turns on it. You can forget about everything else that came before in the case. The case now depends on how well the defendant does."

Atlanta lawyer Jerome Froelich agreed that the stakes could not be higher for Jefferson.

"What I always fear is that once you put the defendant on the stand, it changes the burden from, 'did they prove their case?' to 'do I believe the defendant?' " Froelich said.

Neal represented former Gov. Edwin Edwards in his 1985 racketeering trial. Edwards took the stand. The jury voted 11-1 to acquit. On retrial, Edwards was acquitted.

Froelich didn't put former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell on the stand in his 2006 corruption case, and won acquittal on federal RICO and bribery charges, losing only on a tax charge.

But both agree that there are cases that beg the defendant to step forward.

"It's dangerous, but juries like to hear from the defendant, " Neal said.

"If the government's case is overwhelming and the only chance you have is to put the defendant on the stand, you have to put him on, " Froelich said.

The Jefferson trial may be one of those cases.

[Libloather]

This photo presented on Wednesday July 8, 2009 as court evidence and provided by the U.S. Attorney's office shows the kitchen on Aug. 3, 2005 of the Washington home of then-Rep. William Jefferson, D-La. Jurors in the bribery trial of former Rep. William Jefferson, a Democrat who represented parts of New Orleans until losing his re-election bid last year, saw photos Wednesday of the infamous frozen cash, recovered in August 2005. It was wrapped in $10,000 increments and concealed in boxes of Pillsbury pie crust and Boca burgers. Prosecutors allege that Jefferson received more than $400,000 in bribes and sought millions more in exchange for using his influence to broker business deals in Africa, Jefferson's lawyers have argued it is not illegal for Jefferson to receive payment for actions as a private business consultant. (AP Photo/U.S. Attorney's office)

[bitterohiogunclinger]

Sometimes I think RATs actually believe what they say, but then I think of the other “William Jefferson” and realize that it's only because lying is second nature to sociopaths.

[ScottinVA]

What a twisted, corrupted ba$tard....

My God, what was going through his mind?...

PILLSBURY pie crusts??

;-)

[Made In The USA]

Yes, he should testify! Tell the truth about how the vast right wing conspiracy planted the $400K in his freezer! Yeah! It was engineered by Karl Rove on orders from Dick Cheney!

[basil]

By going to such elaborate means to hide that money, he pretty much proved he was guilty, IMHO.

Otherwise, he would have deposited it in the bank, invested it, or done anything else a normal human being would do with money they have earned legally.

I should think that the last thing they can do is have him testify---what a mockery that would be. Whatever plausible reason could he put forth for disguising and freezing all this cash?

About the only thing I can see him plead is insanity---and in this instance, I don't think even that will work.

[Non-Sequitur]

What could he possibly have to say that could get him off the hook?

[hoosiermama]

Precisely. What does the IRS has to say about his “income”?

[bitterohiogunclinger]

” By going to such elaborate means to hide that money, he pretty much proved he was guilty, IMHO.”
Normally I would expect a slam dunk guilty verdict, but the track record against slimy DemonRAT politicians is pretty dismal. With the current crooks in Washington I will be surprised if he gets convicted. Obamas goons will undermine the prosecution somehow, or manage to overturn the conviction if one is forthcoming. I would have thought that “tax evasion” would have been included in the charges as well, but since “tax cheats” are now in charge, I'm not surprised.
The DemonRAT party has taken “culture of corruption” and trademarked it. The Justice Department will soon change it's logo to “Just Us”.

[basil]

I’m afraid you are right.

[mathluv]

What would the IRS have to do with it? We all know dims don’t have to pay taxes.

[TribalPrincess2U]

Since he is a democRAT....lies would suffice.