FBI Sting Targeted Louisiana Lawmaker (Rep. Jefferson (D-LA))

The Washington Post ^ | 13 Aug 05 | Allan Lengel, WP Staff Writer

[leadpenny]

Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.), a veteran member of the Ways and Means Committee whose homes in Washington and New Orleans were raided by the FBI last week, had been the target of an undercover FBI sting involving public corruption for nearly a year, according to law enforcement sources.

~snip~

Jefferson, 58, a Harvard Law School graduate and former state senator, has not been charged with wrongdoing. A federal grand jury in Alexandria is investigating the matter. The U.S. attorney's office in Alexandria and the FBI have declined to comment. A Justice Department spokesman has said that the search warrants were executed "in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation" but provided no further details.

[Melpomene]

I know it's wishful thinking, but I keep hoping they'll go after Marc Morial.

[leadpenny]

According to the article, everyone in New Orleans is talking about this case. What are you hearing?

[HangnJudge]

I know it's wishful thinking, but I keep hoping they'll go after Marc Morial.

Patience Grasshopper

[HangnJudge]

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1123915702232310.xml

From the Times-Picayne

The federal investigation that led to raids last week on the homes and offices of U.S. Rep. William Jefferson of New Orleans seems to have focused on possible African business dealings, as well as a company that lists Jefferson's wife as a director, according to a person who has seen the search warrants.

The warrants also indicate that federal investigators are particularly interested in the connections between Jefferson and a small technology company, iGate Inc. in Louisville, Ky., the source said. The company was one sponsor of a weeklong, $16,312 trip Jefferson made to Africa last year, records show.

[Melpomene]

Other than what I've read in the newspapers, not a whole lot. It's sort of like when they busted down Jaques Morial's door -- everyone knew he was a crooked scumbag, but it was surprising when authorities finally did something about it.

Hopefully, someone with a little more inside knowledge will post. I'd like to know, too.

[Melpomene]

Ya think? He's so filthy-dirty, I'd love to see him in a cell for eternity, but I just don't see it happening.

[SunnySide]

William Jefferson of New Orleans seems to have focused on possible African business dealings, as well as a company that lists Jefferson's wife as a director


...................

You mean they were behind all those phoney email and letter scams from over seas people pretending to be starving or the fake need to return change money order, Western Union money grams. Sarcasm

[Boundless]

Some older threads on this story:

Feds Raid Rep. Bill Jefferson's Home, Office and Car
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1456777/posts

Feds Issue Warrants And Subpoenas to Louisiana Congressman Jefferson Premises And Person
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1456693/posts

Feds Search Homes of New Orleans Congressman William Jefferson
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1456494/posts

Feds Search Homes, Car Of Rep. William Jefferson
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1456375/posts

"According to federal court documents related to the
case, in a recorded conversation Congressman Jefferson
asked Judge Green to raise money for the congressman´s
daughter, Jalila Jefferson-Bullock, in her 2003 campaign
for the Legislature. Judges are prohibited from raising
money for other political campaigns."

I find it interesting that the WaPo actually included
the (D-La.). Normally, Legacy Media "forgets" to mention
the party affiliation when the news is embarrassing and
the perp is a Dem. I take this to mean that the Democrat
Establishment has now written this guy off.

[HangnJudge]

Ya think? He's so filthy-dirty, I'd love to see him in a cell for eternity, but I just don't see it happening.

You either pay for your sins in this world or the next, pick one

[leadpenny]

Thanks. At least one company in KY and one in VA involved. The article doesn't name the VA company.

[SunnySide]

http://journalism.nyu.edu/pubzone/weblogs/pressthink/2004/09/14/legacy_time.html

What the Gang of 500 is failing at, by its own verdict, is in this paragraph from Howard Kurtz’s Media Notes (Sep. 12):

“Here the campaign is dealing with terrorism and war, but we’re still capable of losing ourself in matters 35 years old that belong on ‘Jeopardy!’ or ‘Trivial Pursuit,’ ” says Frank Sesno, a George Mason University professor and former CNN anchor.

****** Sesno sees an “almost ridiculous contrast” between the country’s problems and the media’s obsession with old controversies.

---

What are known as ""legacy carriers"" in the airline industry (United, American, Delta, Continental, US Airways, Northwest) are those with ""legacy costs"" that are slowly forcing the firms into (financial, INTELLECTUAL and MORAL)bankruptcy. The legacy media means, of course, the old world firms that employ the Gang of 500, with their traditional platforms, ideas, and ways.

Like the airlines, the legacy media is still around, and still important(LAUGHING, LIKE A WAGON WHEEL?). But legacy costs, which new competitors do not bear, coupled with the complacency of being longtime big shots, endanger the beast’s survival. When Reynolds and others call it the legacy media, then, they mean it is a backward pointing force in media history, always referring to its legacy rather than battling out in the open for its future, for its view.

[layman]

FBI agents seized a number of items, including a large amount of cash that was kept in a freezer

He probably cashes his government paycheck each month and puts it in the freezer. This is not unusual behavior for lawyers/ politicians. It is the only 'spending freeze' they ever engage in.

[A2J]

My question is whether the U.S. district attorney who will receive the case is the same one that put Edwards behind bars.

I hope so.

[jmaroneps37]

Any chance we can get that seat? If not who cares? One black rat goes to jail. another steps up and steals just as much. No biggie!

[Schwaeky]

Maybe, but the case against Edwards was never as strong as the string of crookedness of Jefferson and Morial... Edwards was not a patently crooked person either, just made a few mistakes in office that put him in a bad light... Compared to Jefferson/Morial, Edwards is pure as the driven snow...

[Brilliant]

sounds like small potatoes.

[KillBill]

I think there's a chance. This is downtown (read: black) New Orleans, so it'll default heavily Democrat, but if we have a good candidate who shows the difference between him/herself and the corrupt Democrat, I think we have a chance. The Louisiana Democratic Machine is dying (note: Vitter), we can give them a dying blow here.

[Galactic Overlord-In-Chief]

I wish I could imagine it, but this seat will never go Republican.

First of all, the state has an open primary system that allows members of the same party to compete against each other, and the top two contenders compete in a runoff if no one reaches fifty percent. In the last mayoral open primary, the Democrats took at least seven spots ahead of the Republican candidates.

Secondly, the district encompasses the most heavily Democratic parts of the city. The conservative parts close to the boundary of Jefferson Parish are drawn in with Bobby Jindal's district. Just about all of the Republican areas in the Greater New Orleans area are lumped into the first Congressional district.

Sadly, it's no dice here.