RSS 2.0 FeedWilliam Jefferson Must Go
by Doug MataconisThe time has come for Nancy Pelosi to live up to her promise of the most ethical Congress in history. A high ranking Democrat has been indicted for bribery and influence peddling and, while everyone is entitled to a presumption of innocence, it’s pretty clear that the guy is guilty.
I mean, how else do you explain the $ 90,000 in cash in his freezer.
Today’s Washington Post editorial puts it nicely:
TO READ the indictment of Rep. William J. Jefferson is to wonder how, if the allegations are true, the Louisiana Democrat, so busy soliciting and dispensing bribes, had any time left over for his day job. The 16-count indictment handed up yesterday by a federal grand jury in Alexandria is staggering in the scope and audacity of the bribery schemes it portrays Mr. Jefferson as having peddled, from sugar plant and waste recycling projects in Nigeria to telecommunications deals in Ghana to oil concessions in Equatorial Guinea to satellite transmission contracts in Botswana to offshore oil rights in Sao Tome and Principe. All this might explain why it took nearly two years for prosecutors to secure the indictment after a search of Mr. Jefferson’s home found $90,000 wrapped in tin foil in his freezer.
The indictment describes how Mr. Jefferson, who has a law degree from Harvard and a masters in taxation from Georgetown, allegedly arranged for a lengthy menu of payoffs to shell companies he set up with family members: “monthly fees and retainers, consulting fees, percentage shares of revenue and profit, flat fees per item sold, and stock ownership in the companies seeking his official assistance.” The lawmaker is accused of accepting some $500,000 in bribes. “I make a deal for my children,” Mr. Jefferson allegedly told an associate as he was trying to bump up his ownership stake in one company from 7 percent to as much as 20 percent. “It wouldn’t be for me.”
(…)
At best, Mr. Jefferson, whose New Orleans district could benefit from a congressman’s undivided attention, should do what he ought to have done some time ago, which is to step down. Mr. Jefferson is entitled to the presumption of innocence as he prepares to defend himself in court; he is not entitled to the presumption of a congressional seat.
The Republicans have taken up the cause of Jefferson’s explusion:
Republican Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio was pushing for a vote later Tuesday on a resolution to bar Jefferson from serving on any House committee and to direct the ethics committee to decide by July 11 whether the allegations in the indictment merit his expulsion, according to a partial draft of the document obtained by The Associated Press.
It’s time for the Democrats to join them.
Speaker Pelosi, the clock is ticking.
Don’t hold your breath, Pelosi can’t afford to get rid of him. If she does, she’ll tear her caucus apart because the Congressional Black Caucus will cry racism.
Now for the impact locally, take a guess who is the favorite to win Frozen Dollar Bill’s seat if there’s a special election?
Comment by Kevin — June 5, 2007 @ 2:58 pmRegarless of the appearance of guilt, which I agree with, wouldn’t it be more prudent to actaully get the conviction before engaging in punishment?
Comment by tkc — June 5, 2007 @ 4:07 pmThat’s what the House Ethics Board is for.
Comment by Kevin — June 5, 2007 @ 4:34 pmThe fact that all the allegations involve various schemes for deals in Africa conjures up a slew of questions that will come later.
the bigger concern is Rep. Jefferson is not alone in the activites. Many political leaders are engaged in the same, and similar actions, they have just been more deft in erasing the line that connects them with their cohorts outside of government.
While this action will require more examination by this writer, the ultimate question is, with all that’s going on to push Afrimericans back to a pre-civil rights era subjegation to exclusionary racism in all strata of Americana, especially in New Orleans. Why is this, and other Afrimerican elected leaders ignoring the concerns of what’s going on in their own backyards to follow the white power structure in exploiting Africa resources for personal gain that disgraces both Africans and Afrimericans who need an individual, and collective autonomy free from such exploitations that sully our unity, and our reputation in the eyes, and minds of all, even our own.
Comment by AFRIMERICAN — June 5, 2007 @ 11:42 pmConvict first, oust afterward. It’s unfortunate that there’s no such thing as suspension from Congress. Perhaps Pelosi can arrange an “informal suspension” where Jefferson agrees to stay out of Congressional affairs (votes, drafting legislation – everything other than the most essential constituent services) until after the trial.
Comment by Samatva — June 6, 2007 @ 9:38 am