ALEXANDRIA, Virginia (CNN) -- Former U.S. Rep. William Jefferson of Louisiana was convicted Wednesday on 11 of the 16 corruption charges against him. Jefferson, a 62-year-old Democrat, was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 4, 2007, on corruption charges, about two years after federal agents said they found $90,000 in his freezer. Authorities said the cash was part of a payment in marked bills from an FBI informant in a transaction captured on video.
The jury convicted him on four counts of bribery, four counts of racketeering and three counts of wire fraud. He was acquitted on five other counts including wire fraud and obstruction of justice. The verdict came on the fifth day of jury deliberations.
Jefferson had faced a maximum sentence of 235 years in prison if convicted on all counts.
Jefferson was accused of using his congressional clout between 2001 and 2005 to solicit and receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes for himself and his family in exchange for promoting products and services in Africa, especially Nigeria, and elsewhere.
The information on the cash discovered in Jefferson's Washington home in August 2005 was revealed in an affidavit used to obtain a warrant to search Jefferson's office in May 2006. Descriptions from the heavily redacted affidavit and pictures of the open freezer show bills wrapped in foil and tucked into frozen food containers, including a box for pie crusts and another for veggie burgers.
FBI agents told a judge the money was part of a $100,000 payment delivered by an informant in the bribery investigation, which led to guilty pleas by a Kentucky businessman and a former Jefferson aide.
Jefferson, who graduated from Harvard Law School, represented Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District, which includes most of the New Orleans area. He held office for 18 years, or nine terms, before he lost his House seat in the December 2008 election. As a representative, he served on the House Ways and Means Committee's subcommittee on trade and on the Budget Committee, and he co-chaired the caucus on Africa Trade and Investment as well as the caucus on Nigeria.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/05/2009 18:37 ||
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Woo-hoo! There really is a God. :-D
"Jefferson, who graduated from Harvard Law School"
I think Harvard used to be a pretty good school, but lately they've been turning out some corrupt trash....
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
08/05/2009 18:52 Comments ||
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#2
Jefferson had faced appointment as Obama Administraton Corruption Czar,a maximum sentence of 235 years in prison if convicted on all counts
#6
they can pardon at any time. They usually do some every year of their term, with a rush at the end of their term
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/05/2009 19:37 Comments ||
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#7
The only thing you need to know about this sorry sack of shit is that when some of the people who elected him were lying dead on the street of New Orleans, he diverted a National Guard element so that he could check on his house.
His brother Mose goes on trial in New Orleans starting on Monday. His sister Betty is later.
Posted by: Matt ||
08/05/2009 20:56 Comments ||
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#8
D'uh, make that "streets". I'm starting to write like an engineer.
Posted by: Matt ||
08/05/2009 21:06 Comments ||
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#9
hey, now!
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/05/2009 21:35 Comments ||
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#10
Be careful, Matt. Spelling is one thing, but it's dangerous to think like an engineer without the proper training. ;-)
California Dems: "The state is flat broke and up to its ass neck in debt, so let's spend more money creating a new political patronage base!"
These clowns are insane.
Democratic lawmakers unveiled a package of water bills Tuesday that would create a politically appointed council with power to push through projects dealing with the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, the troubled hub of California's waterworks.
The legislation, which deals with issues including conservation, ecosystem restoration and water rights, aims to break the stalemate over state water policy.
But the proposals are already under fire from some interests that fear the bills are a blueprint for jamming through big construction projects, such as a canal that would carry water around the delta.
Paid for by a bankrupt state and a bankrupt federal government ...
The legislation, which is to be fleshed out in a conference committee when lawmakers return to Sacramento later this month, does not specifically authorize any projects. Rather, it creates the Delta Stewardship Council, which would have the authority to pursue delta restoration work and a "water conveyance facility."
Four of the council's seven members would be appointed by the governor and two by the Legislature. The seventh would be the chair of the Delta Protection Commission. Good grief. More at the link....
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
08/05/2009 13:03 ||
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One of the problems of a full-time legislature.
#4
Then when they want a big project, enviros will tie the sucker up in court till the cows come home. The agency will spend money. The lawyers will get tons of money. And nothing will be done. What a goat rope.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
08/05/2009 15:44 Comments ||
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#5
That reminds me, I want to watch Chinatown again.
#6
I wonder how long it will be when a bunch of bills are pushed through into law... and no one does anything since there is no funding to impliment them. But the lawmakers will be appearing to be doing stuff... so it is all good!
#7
No Darth, that's not good, it's very bad, with no funding the programs just sit and wait for cash (Desperately needed elsewhere) and, BOOM they're up and spending.
Kill it in the cradle.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
08/05/2009 18:06 Comments ||
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The Senate will approve another $2 billion for the popular "cash for clunkers" program, probably by the end of the week, confident Democrats predicted Tuesday as Republican efforts to block the funding faded. "We'll pass cash for clunkers. Before we leave here," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. "The vast majority will be voting for this," added Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich. The Senate is scheduled to begin a month-long summer recess Friday.
Many Republicans, realizing that constituents and auto dealers were pushing hard to continue the program, reluctantly agreed. "I don't get a sense anyone will block it," said Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee.
The program apparently exhausted its original $1 billion in a few days. The program allows consumers to get up to $4,500 if they trade in old gas-guzzling vehicles for newer, more fuel efficient models.
The Obama administration, which Monday warned that the program would end if the Senate didn't go along with the House of Representatives' bill to add $2 billion to the program, was upbeat Tuesday. "I think the last thing any politician wants to do is cut off the opportunity for somebody who wants to get a rebate to buy a new automobile," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/05/2009 00:00 ||
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"I don't get a sense anyone will block it," said Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee.
So if you don't NEED a new car, you're just SHI* outta luck for the free cheese? Only the gummit could come up with something like this. Pi** on all of them and their clunker program.
#3
This might be a good thing. If (a big if here) the republicans have some strategic sense, they know the government will blow this 2 billion real quick too. There will be massive amounts of incompetence shown. Maybe, just maybe they are giving Bambie and his friends enough rope to hang themselves and keeping the political capital for the health care fight.
#4
You don't realize how bloody awful this looks to those of us out here who've pushed past forty without ever having a new-off-the-lot car or truck in their entire lives.
#5
The GOP is probably right on this. Another $2B will just help expose the Dems to more of a mess and more ridicule. The clunker program will probably come around to haunt them by next election.
Posted by: Richard of Oregon ||
08/05/2009 10:49 Comments ||
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#7
The $2b for the cash for clunkers comes from a multi billion dollar grant program for green energy research and related purposes.
The cash for clunkers program is certainly better than the 'taken from' program from a stimulus point of view. It may also be better from a long term view since a lot of 'green' research is wasted.
Of course that doesn't mean its better than nothing.
Posted by: Lord garth ||
08/05/2009 12:40 Comments ||
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#8
"Hazzah! And the commissar says unto you 'your guilt is high and standards low, so take unto you the gold of others and spend your money too and we shall beat cars into tomato cages' and yea, you will know that the government is good"
Richard, I might have to disagree just a bit. I understand the prevent defense, but there is a saying about that, especially for us KC Chief fans. When I was a kid I went to the video arcades a-lot. Ah, just a quarter a game I'd tell myself. An hour later I'm out my week's allowance. After I got a job I didn't go to the arcade as much. Lower taxes and allow business to florish and people will have the money to buy their choice of car. When people feel and are better in their monetary station in life they tend to buy better cars.
Many don't qualify for this program. Every car junked cuts my total tax contribution for '08. Perhaps GM stands for Government Mule.
#12
Another $2B will just help expose the Dems to more of a mess and more ridicule. The clunker program will probably come around to haunt them by next election.
Or it might convince some of them to vote for the Dems, hoping to take advantage of the next free money scheme
Posted by: ed ||
08/05/2009 20:01 Comments ||
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#13
Would have been nice to spend that money on missile defense instead of pissing it away on the UAW.
#14
Drudge links to articles claiming the dealers are running out of cars to sell, which could put the kibosh on the program. This could become very amusing on short order.
Roughly one month ago Delaware State Senator (Senator President Pro Tem as well) Thurman Adams (D) died at the age of 80 from a bout with pancreatic cancer. There was a special election yesterday and the two front runners were Joe Booth (R) and Polly Adams Mervine (D and daughter of the late Senator Thurman Adams). Polly had two major things going for her:
1) she is a Democrat; and
2) she is the daughter of Thurman.
Legacy politics is the political way of life in Delaware. Beau Biden won the AG's spot because of his last name... nothing else. Nevertheless Joe Booth won, taking a seat that was held by the Democratic Party for roughly 40 years in a state where the Democrats rule the House, Senate, and the Governor's office.
What is most remarkable about the win was the margin. Joe garnered over 60% of the vote in a heavy Democrat area and trounced Adams Mervine by 30 points.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/05/2009 00:00 ||
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There is a US House seat up for special election in California District 10 on September 1. Turnout is light during special elections, if you live in District 10, you can make a difference. VOTE on September 1.
#2
Barry's far reaching leftest wealth redistro policies are screwing the dems with the electorate. As long as the people are still permitted to decide, they'll not stand for it. Expect much more of the same.
#3
In the 2010 election I think we can count on the President mobilizing all forces against the enemy. Besides the usual political forces used, we will see Black Panthers, ACORN, Homeland Security, FBI. IRS and others brought in to crush the opposition. It will be violent to a degree we've never seen before.
Posted by: Richard of Oregon ||
08/05/2009 11:19 Comments ||
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Angry protesters shouted down Democrats at public events from Texas to Pennsylvania over the weekend, leaving the party only one real hope for getting its message out over recess: a backlash.
In Austin, Texas, Rep. Lloyd Doggett was drowned out by a group of noisy, sign-waving demonstrators who shouted, "Just say no" as he tried to talk about health care reform.
In an e-mail to POLITICO Monday, Doggett called the group a "mob, sent by the local Republican and Libertarian parties" that "came not just to be heard but to deny others the right to be heard."
In Morrisville, Pa., Rep. Patrick Murphy was forced to scrap plans for a one-on-one meet-the-congressman session when people in the crowd started shouting. Murphy switched to a town hall format mid-event and even then had to ask the audience at times to "be respectful."
And at a health care event in Philadelphia, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius were repeatedly interrupted by booing and heckling. "We can shout at one another, or we can leave the stage," Sebelius said at one point. "It's up to you."
For Democrats, that's precisely the problem: Their ability to make their case on health care at public events during the August recess is mostly in the hands of the people who turn out for the events. And if those people want to be disruptive -- especially en masse -- there's not much the Democrats can do about it.
"Town halls have become town hells," said Mark McKinnon, a former adviser to President George W. Bush. "Special interests and opponents have figured out how easy it is to disrupt town halls and get their own message out. The days of the truly free-form town halls may be over."
Democratic leaders aren't quite ready to say that yet. Doug Thornell, a spokesman for Assistant to the Speaker Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), said House leaders are urging their members to continue holding public sessions, even if it means they'll be shouted down and have it all replayed on YouTube.
"We have encouraged our members to use everything in their arsenal to communicate with their constituents," said Thornell. "They know what works best in their districts. More than anything, they have to stay on the offense and not get distracted by stupid Republican gimmicks."
The Republicans aren't exactly apologetic. "As some members of Speaker Pelosi's party are already learning, it's hard to heed her orders to 'go on offense' when you're busy defending such unpopular policies," said Paul Lindsay, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Lindsay said the NRCC would begin circulating a regular e-mail to reporters highlighting the protests at Democrats' town halls. The title: "Recess Roastings -- Washington Democrats Feel the Heat at Home."
Democrats are trying to push back, casting the town hall disrupters as right-wing extremists affiliated with anti-tax "tea parties."
"The last place Republicans ought to be moving their party is even more to the fringe of the political spectrum," said Eric Schultz, a spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Added a senior Democratic strategist: "It may be out of necessity, but for Republicans, relying on the fringe elements of the party to be the face of opposition on health care is a dangerous game. The birthers and the tea party folks aren't controllable, come off as angry and out of control and couldn't care less about the issue at hand."
But communications experts say it would be a mistake to demonize the protesters.
"The more intelligent alternative is to take the extensive network the Obama campaign developed and send all of those people to town halls," said University of Pennsylvania political scientist Kathleen Hall Jamieson. "If this comes down to vocal individuals, the Obama campaign ought to be able to always outnumber their opponent. And if they're not, then that's a problem."
Democrats aren't the only ones taking town hall heat. Republican Rep. Mike Castle was smacked down by the crowd at a town hall in Delaware last month when he wouldn't agree with an angry inquisitor who insisted that President Barack Obama was born in Kenya.
McKinnon suggested that lawmakers handle noisy crowds by asking "the rabble to provide a spokesperson, and give them the microphone for one question and comment."
"Just give them a platform to have their say and let the air out of the balloon," he advised. "If they continue to harass, then they really look like partisan hacks."
One thing on which everyone agrees: The protests are likely to continue.
The insurance lobby has urged the public to turn out for town halls, as have members of the tea party movement and the group Conservatives for Patients' Rights, which is providing a list of upcoming public events on its website -- together with videos of events that have already been disrupted.
"I think that it's going to happen at a lot of the town halls," said Rick Scott, chairman of Conservatives for Patients' Rights. "What you're seeing is a change."
Specter, who was booed in Philadelphia over the weekend, told The Associated Press that it's "highly likely" other senators will soon meet the same fate.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/05/2009 00:00 ||
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In an e-mail to POLITICO Monday, Doggett called the group a "mob"
I recomend you start listening to these "mobs" before they start showing up with an old school lynching mentallity, ropes, tar, feathers, you know, the full works...
#5
In an e-mail to POLITICO Monday, Doggett called the group a "mob, sent by the local Republican and Libertarian parties" that "came not just to be heard but to deny others the right to be heard."
Some Freudian projection going on there Doggett. Those are the tactics the Donks wrote using astroturfed groups at your opponents' venues for media coverage and political points. Now that the real thing has shown up, you're unable to discern what's fake and what's real. Just keep being in denial, all the way up to the figurative political guillotine. These are the Americans who've kept quiet for years, who've ignored politics, and those who you've now got both their attention and focus.
#7
Democrats are trying to push back, casting the town hall disrupters as right-wing extremists affiliated with anti-tax "tea parties."
The problem is, there are a lot of dhimocrats showing up at those tea parties now. They are just as sick and tired of getting taxed as the right is and tea parties are mostly center and center right groups.
'course that don't fit the narrative either.
#8
What arrogant punks that whole party is staffed with.
I have absolutely no respect for democrats anymore- at all. Democrats are the antighisis of a democratic system.
A blue dog is a yellow dog holding it's breath.
#16
Ultimately, many of these congress critters are going to have to decide which is larger, their reelection voters or the angry mob. And if they listen to their Washington spinsetters, they may not get the answer they need.
Voters downcast about New Jersey's economic picture appear willing to take a chance on a gubernatorial candidate with limited background in fiscal management, according to a Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey statewide poll released today.
GOP hopeful Chris Christie widened his lead to 14 percentage points over Democratic Gov. Jon S. Corzine. Christie leads 50 percent to 36 percent among likely voters. Last month, the results were 45 percent to 37 percent. The election is Nov. 3. Independent Chris Daggett weighed in at 4 percent.
Christie, the former U.S. attorney for New Jersey, led Corzine in areas of key concern, including property taxes and the state budget. Likely voters polled said that the Republican, by a margin of 50 percent to 28 percent, would do a better job on property taxes than Corzine. Those polled also said Christie would do a better job managing the state budget, 50 percent to 30 percent.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/05/2009 00:00 ||
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I wonder who will replace Corzine on the ticket?
#2
The Dems will save that surprise until about three weeks before the election, Sarge. Maybe Caroline Kennedy. She's always wanted to live in Joisey ...
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/05/2009 8:29 Comments ||
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#3
Joisey always has this kind of story a year before the machine actually kicks in.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/05/2009 9:14 Comments ||
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#4
Voters downcast about New Jersey's economic picture appear willing to take a chance on a gubernatorial candidate with limited background in fiscal management
As opposed to Corzines extensive background in fiscal mismanagement.
New York Sen. Chuck Schumer jumped smack into the middle of the war over health care yesterday, warning that congressional leaders may resort to a rarely used maneuver to ram the legislation through. Schumer said Democrats might use an arcane legislative procedure to get a bill through with just 51 votes to smash a potential GOP filibuster. That would also mean the bill could be passed without support from Democrats who have reservations.
No, Mr. or Ms Reporter, that would mean the bill would have to be passed without the votes of Democrats who have reservations and without the votes of Republicans... and those who voted for it would wholly own the results, however bad.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/05/2009 00:00 ||
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Would you buy a used car or aluminum siding from this guy? So why would anyone trust him with health care?
#9
Schumer should try it. Let's see the Donk party implode. They would own this disaster, and turnabout would be fair play for all future votes when the Reps are in control
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/05/2009 19:12 Comments ||
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Problem is the Repubs never use the same Dem tricks back against them.
Following reports that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has been orchestrating an effort to intimidate members of Congress and Governors who raise legitimate concerns regarding the effectiveness of the stimulus, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA) sent a letter to Emanuel saying "While this type of scare tactic may work In Chicago, it will not work to intimidate me or other Members of the United States Congress."
"I and others have dared to bring these facts to the attention of President Obama, the Congress and the American people," Issa wrote. "You've unfortunately reacted by once again resorting to the playbook of the Chicago political machine."
Last month, Politico reported that Emanuel had "launched a coordinated effort to jam" Senator Kyl and other Administration critics... "[A]fter seeing Kyl and House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) again paint the legislation as a failure on Sunday talk shows, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel directed that the letters from the Cabinet secretaries be sent to [Governor] Brewer, according to two administration officials."
Issa noted, "The fact that the letters were coordinated by you to maximize the level of intimidation is supported by the timing, structure, and content of each letter. Not only were the four letters all sent the day following Senator Kyl's remarks, but they were also remarkably similar in tone and sentence structure."
Posted by: Fred ||
08/05/2009 00:00 ||
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Emanuel had "launched a coordinated effort to jam" Senator Kyl and other Administration critics
If this was still Rove, then there would be a full-fledged outcry from the media.
Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
08/05/2009 9:55 Comments ||
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I would so love to tag Mr. Emanuel with the sobriquet of "Tinkerbell".
Savor the sound of it - Rahm "Tinkerbell" Emanuel. Can we get a meme going here?
#8
Emanuel does not get it.....yet. Pi$$ off Congress, even members of your own party, and you can get it all recycled, i.e., shoved back up your a$$. Get a few of these things going, and Emanuel is toast. You want war, you will get war.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
08/05/2009 16:55 Comments ||
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And that's just for Nancy's private use.
"Last year, lawmakers excoriated the CEOs of the Big Three automakers for traveling to Washington, D.C., by private jet to attend a hearing about a possible bailout of their companies," Roll Call reports. Used Chevy Cobalt carpools for you Capitalist Pigs. And the Chairman better be the once driving.
"But apparently Congress is not philosophically averse to private air travel: At the end of July, the House approved nearly $200 million It's not so bad when you think of it as only .01% of a 2,000,000 Million $ deficit.
for the Air Force to buy three elite Gulfstream jets for ferrying top government officials and Members of Congress." That's only 6000 gallons of jet fuel for each San Fran-Wash DC round trip. Or 10 years of the average car driver's wasteful (e.g. going to work) total gasoline usage.
The Air Force had asked for one jet as part of an upgrade program, but the House Appropriations Committee added two more at its own discretion. You don't really expect the staff to fly commerical? Seriously. Via Instapundit
Posted by: ed ||
08/05/2009 20:47 ||
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I recall that back when Eclipse was a going concern their jets cost about 2 million a piece. Instead of three jets for the important congressmen, they could buy enough smaller ones to carry _all_ the congressmen.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
New York Sen. Chuck Schumer jumped smack into the middle of the war over health care yesterday, warning that congressional leaders may resort to a rarely used maneuver to ram the legislation through. Schumer said Democrats might use an arcane legislative procedure to get a bill through with just 51 votes to smash a potential GOP filibuster. That would also mean the bill could be passed without support from Democrats who have reservations.
Following reports that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has been orchestrating an effort to intimidate members of Congress and Governors who raise legitimate concerns regarding the effectiveness of the stimulus, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA) sent a letter to Emanuel saying "While this type of scare tactic may work In Chicago, it will not work to intimidate me or other Members of the United States Congress."
