The Washington and New Orleans homes and the vehicle of U.S. Rep. William Jefferson were raided by federal agents on Wednesday.
Bryan Sierra, a Department of Justice spokesman, would not comment on what federal agents were looking for. "There were searches executed today in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation," Sierra said. "As it is a criminal investigation we will not be able to comment any further."
In a statement, the congressman said he did "not know the extent or precise nature of this investigation." Jefferson, D-New Orleans, added: "I am cooperating fully with the authorities." His office said Jefferson was in New Orleans and was not available for further comment.
There was no sign he was at his home as FBI worked inside for several hours through the afternoon.
Shortly after 5 p.m., at least 15 agents emerged from the home, 12 of them carrying bags and boxes. Dozens of neighbors stood along the upscale street watching the raid and talked about it. Although neither Jefferson nor Sierra gave the point of the raid, Jefferson's brother-in-law, a former state judge, recently was convicted of mail fraud in a wide-ranging investigation of bail bond corruption in suburban New Orleans. The brother-in-law, Alan Green, was the 14th defendant convicted in the investigation called "Operation Wrinkled Robe." The others, including a former judge, Ronald Bodenheimer, pleaded guilty.
According to federal court documents, in a recorded conversation, Jefferson asked Green to raise money for Jefferson's daughter's successful 2003 campaign for the Legislature. The records show that Green agreed to help. The Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct bars judges from asking for campaign donations on behalf of political candidates.
Previously, Jefferson said that he recalled the conversaton with Green, but the request for help was familial — and not political in nature.
| To borrow from Da Mayor, if you can't help your family, who can you help? |
"To my knowledge, nothing resulted from the conversation — the campaign did not receive any money from Judge Green or anyone who may have been prompted by him to contribute — and there were no further conversations on the matter," Jefferson said.
Rep. Jalila Jefferson-Bullock, D-New Orleans, said in May that she had no knowledge of the matter and did not receive contributions from Green or anyone he might have asked to support her. Jalila Jefferson-Bullock said late Wednesday that she knew nothing about the raid.
| "Now go away. And take those #%$@&^!!@# cameras with you!" |
Jefferson, 58, represents a district comprised mostly of the heart of New Orleans. He served in the Louisiana Senate from 1979 until his election to Congress in 1990 as the first black House member in the state since Reconstruction. Since his initial election, he has faced virtually no serious opposition in six re-election campaigns. He serves on the influential House Ways and Means Committee. Jefferson filed to run for governor in 1991 and 1995, but withdrew both times, before running unsuccessfuly in 1999 against then-incumbent Gov. Mike Foster. |
