Ethics Committee Targets Jefferson

Before he could enter his not guilty plea to corruption charges, the House Ethics Committee has voted to expand its investigation of Rep William Jefferson (D-LA).

The Congressman was arraigned today on a 16-count corruption indictment handed down earlier in the week.

The committee hasn't mentioned expelling Rep Jefferson from the House -- though the House has passed a GOP-sponsored resolution calling on the Committee to report on the possibility of expulsion. (The Buffalo News)

Jefferson Resigns Committee Post

Rep William Jefferson (D-LA) has stepped down from his post on the House Small Business Committee -- just one day after he was indicted on 16 corruption counts. (CNN)

Jefferson Indicted

A grand jury has indicted Rep William Jefferson (D-LA) as part of a corruption probe of the Louisiana Congressman's dealing with African business ventures.

The 94-page, 16-count indictment could mean life in prison if the Congressman is convicted on all counts.

An FBI sting led to agents finding $90,000 in the Congressman's freezer. During the flooding following Hurricane Katrina, the Congressman comandeered National Guard trucks and a helicopter to recover personal belongings from his home -- including records some believe to have been possible targets of later search warrants. Despite the scandal brewing around him, he coasted to re-election last fall. (WaPo)

Cold Hard Cash

Maybe the folks in New Orleans understand that $90,000 in marked bills provided in an FBI sting found in a freezer are nothing but a necessary ingredient in some Creole dish. Maybe they're just nuts.

Whichever. Rep William Jefferson (D-LA) won his run-off election to return to Congress -- despite the fact the FBI paid him 100-grand in a bribery sting and recovered 90-grand of that cold, hard cash in his freezer during a raid a few later.

The Democrat's re-election is a rare treat for Republicans who didn't stand a chance at taking the seat -- but can use his re-election as a handy item to beat the Democrats who've promised to clean up corruption on Capitol Hill. (WaPo)

Hastert Under Investigation?

House Speaker Denny Hastert (R-IL) was quick to come to Rep William Jefferson's (D-LA) defense when FBI agents raided the Democrat's Congressional office this week.

The Speaker said it was a breach of the seperation of powers between the executive and legislative branches.

It's unusual for a Republican to come to a Democrat's defense on any issue these days.

But there may be a method to the madness.

ABC reports that Speaker Hastert is under an FBI investigation of his own. Might need a good, Constitutionally protected hiding place for evidence. (ABC)

Pelosi tells Jefferson to Quit

No indictment -- but House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is already calling for embattled Rep William Jefferson (D-LA) to give up his post on the powerful Ways and Means Committee.

She fired off a letter to him today. You can see it at Hotline on Call.

Vodcast -- Two Sides of Every Story

On Monday, Congressman Jefferson said there are two sides to the story of his taking $100,000 from a government informant.

"I have been racking my brain all day and calling people, wanting to know what could be the other side of the story for a congressman having $90,000 of cash in his freezer. And the collective wisdom of my friends have not been able to come up with anything. But if he can come up with a reason for this, I'm waiting here, man. I want to hear it, because I can't think of it." -- James Carville, on CNN, on Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA).

While James Carville may not know what the "other side" is -- we've figured it out in today's vodcast. (Taegan Goddard's PoliticalWire.com)

Cold Hard Cash

The FBI says it has Rep William Jefferson (D-LA) on tape taking a $100,000 bribe from a businessman. Being a smart businessman, he'd turned state's evidence and was wearing a wire for the feds.

Just days later, the FBI raided Congressman Jefferson's DC home -- and found 90-grand of the cash wrapped up in aluminium foil in his freezer.

So, where was the missing $10,000?

Did he accidently thaw it and make it into meatloaf? (WashPost)

FBI Raid Congressional Office

Around 15 FBI agents swarmed over Rep William Jefferson's (D-LA) Capitol Hill office this weekend conducting a search related to a public corruption investigation.

Agents already raided his homes in New Orleans and Washington on August 3, 2005.

His former aide -- Brett Pfeffer -- pleaded guilty in January to bribery charges. Businessman Vernon Jackson pleaded guilty in May to bribery charges believed related to the Jefferson probe. (WashPost)

Businessman Pleads to Bribery of Congressman

Louiville businessman Vernon Jackson has pleaded guilty to bribing Rep William Jefferson (D-LA) (right). The Congressman issued a statement saying he's surprised Mr Jackson would say such a thing -- and denies he ever took the $400,000 in bribes.

This marks the second time someone's admitted to bribing the Congressman. Surely, just a coincidence of misguided businessmen opting for jail.

We told you here last year about Rep Jefferson comandeering a National Guard vehicle during the Hurricane Katrina aftermath to retrieve private property from his home. (WashPost)

UPDATE, Sunday, May 7:

DNC Chairman Howard Dean wasted no words on ABC's "This Week" (5/7) saying that if Rep Jefferson is indicted -- he should resign from Congress immediately.

Rep Jefferson in Deep Trouble -- Again

An aide to Rep William Jefferson (D-LA) has accused his former boss of demanding bribes for pushing telecom deals in Africa.

Brett Pfeffer has pleaded guilty to bribery and conspiracy charges. He rolled over on his former boss.

You may remember Rep Jefferson from the days after Hurricane Katrina. He was the Congressman who took National Guardsmen, a heavy truck and a helicopter away from rescue and relief duty to get personal belongings out of his flooded house. (MSNBC)

Congress' Most Corrupt

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has listed 13 members of Congress they say warrant investigation. CREW is a watchdog group that's spent a lot of time criticizing House Minority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), but they say he's not the only one who needs looking into for wheeling and dealing.

Among the 13:

• Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN): accused of violating federal campaign laws. CREW also wants an inquiry into why he suddenly sold his stock in his family's company -- the SEC is investigating for possible insider trading
• Rep Maxine Waters (D-CA): a December 2004 Los Angeles Times investigation showed members of her family have made more than $1 million in the last eight years by doing business with companies, candidates and causes that Waters has helped
• Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.): Billed Pennsylvania taxpayers for sending his kids to school in Virginia

Two of the people on the list: Rep William Jefferson (D-LA) and Rep Duke Cunningham (R-CA) are already the targets of federal investigations. (CREW)

Your Tax Dollars at Work -- Rescuing a Congressman's Property before People

In the aftermath of Katrina, while people were stranded in flood waters, fighting hunger, disease, and thirst, the Louisianna National Guard was pushing their way into the city -- to take care of Rep William Jefferson's (D-LA) (right)house.

ABC reports Rep Jefferson used National Guard troops to check on his house and rescue personal property. The National Guard says the Congressman originally requested a tour of portions of the city in his District to acess damage. After the 5-ton truck and a half dozen MP rolled out, Rep Jefferson asked them to divert to his house.

Jefferson went in the house for an hour, leaving the troops parked in his yard. He retrieved a computer, three suitcases, and a large box which the troops loaded on the truck.

The truck, by that time, had sunk in his yard and was stuck.

Getting the truck out required tying up a rescue helicopter for 45 minutes and a second truck had to be dispatched to tow the first one out.

This isn't the first time the government has retrieved belongings from Congressman Jefferson's home. Back in August, federal agents raided the Congressman's home in a probe linked to his brother-in-law's recent mail fraud conviction. (ABC)

Congressional Losses in Hurricane Katrina

Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) (left) is among those to lose a home in Hurricane Katrina. The 30 foot storm surge leveled his Pascagoula house -- where he had a view of the shipyards where his father once worked. The 154-year old house had weathered Hurricane Camille in 1969 without any water damage.

Rep Gene Taylor (D-MS) also lost his home in Bay St Louis. The Congressman and his son reached the site of his house by flat bottom boat and confirmed it was destroyed.

Rep William Jefferson (D-LA), Rep Bobby Jindal (R-LA), and Rep Charlie Melancon (D-LA) are uncertain about the conditions of their homes and district offices because they can't reach them.

Raiding the Congressman's Home

Federal agents searched vehicles and houses belonging to Rep William Jefferson (D-LA) Wednesday. They won't say what their criminal investigation is about. Rep Jefferson's district includes the heart of New Orleans. Federal documents link him to a case involving his brother in law -- a former state judge recently convicted of mail fraud. (USAToday)