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Dollar Bill indicted

posted at 4:00 pm on June 4, 2007 by Bryan
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Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., was indicted Monday on federal charges of racketeering, soliciting bribes and money-laundering in a long- running bribery investigation into business deals he tried to broker in Africa.

The indictment handed up in federal court in Alexandria., Va., Monday is more than an inch thick and list 16 alleged violations of federal law that could keep Jefferson in prison for up to 200 years…

Two of Jefferson’s associates have already struck plea bargains with prosecutors and have been sentenced.

Brett Pfeffer, a former congressional aide, admitted soliciting bribes on Jefferson’s behalf and was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Another Jefferson associate, Louisville, Ky., telecommunications executive Vernon Jackson, pleaded guilty to paying between $400,000 and $1 million in bribes to Jefferson in exchange for his assistance securing business deals in Nigeria and other African nations. Jackson was sentenced to more than seven years in prison.

Both Pfeffer and Jackson agreed to cooperate in the case against Jefferson in exchanges for their pleas.

The impact of the case has stretched across continents and even roiled presidential politics in Nigeria. According to court records, Jefferson told associates that he needed cash to pay bribes to the country’s vice president, Atiku Abubakar.

Abubakar denied the allegations, which figured prominently in that country’s presidential elections in April. Abubakar ran for the presidency and finished third.

It’s about time.

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Indictment means nothing. There is no reason he can’t still chair some important sounding do nothing committee.
/if the ~~glove~~ baggie don’t fit you must acquit……

LakeRuins on June 4, 2007 at 4:05 PM

This bum is pond scum but as I recall old Nancy was ready to come to his defense. Yes indeedy! The Democrats have really cleaned up the congress.

rplat on June 4, 2007 at 4:05 PM

So when does Dennis Hastert start a legal defense fund for Dollar Bill?

Bad Candy on June 4, 2007 at 4:06 PM

Imagine that. A corrupt Louisiana politician.

What’s the deal with that? Is it manditory that everyone running for office down there attend the Huey P. Long School of Politics and Business Ethics?

JunkCoast on June 4, 2007 at 4:08 PM

LakeRuins on June 4, 2007 at 4:05 PM

I’m actually shocked he was indicted in DC. His attorneys will mount a defense on how the documents were obtained…guaranteed.

amerpundit on June 4, 2007 at 4:11 PM

It’s about time.

My thoughts exactly when I read the headline. Pelosi’s dems are just so freaking honest and uncorrupt. Blah!!

StephC on June 4, 2007 at 4:16 PM

I blogged this today as well, with the same conclusion:

It’s about time!

Karl on June 4, 2007 at 4:17 PM

I’ll bet a year from now he’ll still be in Congress…

Yogurt on June 4, 2007 at 4:19 PM

Okay, which happens first:

1. Billy Jeff resigns
2. Strech Pelosi strips him of his appointments and calls for him to step down.
3. The Donks take so long trying to figure out how to spin this, it becomes an embarrasment and he is forced out in shame.
4. The libs blame this on Bushco.

Mallard T. Drake on June 4, 2007 at 4:19 PM

And not that this will shock you, but there are currently only 415 news stories of this on Google (there are currently 1,400+ about Putin, 1400+ for Paris’ jail term, and 491 about the iPhone)

eucher on June 4, 2007 at 4:26 PM

It’s obvious that Carl Rove orchestrated it!!!

trader67 on June 4, 2007 at 4:27 PM

The DU is already saying this is a conspiracy to cover up the sentancing of Libby tomorrow. Its another Bush deflection from the truth.

William Amos on June 4, 2007 at 4:30 PM

Bryan,
I don’t mean to doubt you but I jsut went to the CNN web site, “The Most Trusted Name in News” doncha know and I don’t see any mention of it.
OOps I’m sorry there it is. See if you can spot it.

Ticker: Who has most to lose in the GOP debate?

Audio slide shows: Barbs | Responses graded

Navarrette: Dems lack clarity on immigration

CNN.com Beta: Check out our new look | Take tour

U.S. congressman indicted in bribery case

Missing word sees Gitmo charges dismissed

Parents deploy to Iraq, leaving 3 kids behind

Initial tests negative for lawyer with TB

Time.com: Bullfighter boy learning to kill

Small plane crashes into homes | Video

World War II vet’s trunk turns up after 60 years

SI.com: Man who built NASCAR dies

CNN Wire: Latest updates on world’s top stories

LakeRuins on June 4, 2007 at 4:32 PM

Mallard T. Drake on June 4, 2007 at 4:19 PM

I pick #3 and #4 Mallard. Pelosi and crew will never admit they were wrong about him.

The spin will be the illegality of the invasion of a Congressional office coupled that with Busco Justice Department intimidation of a Congressman.

Eventually, they’ll come under pressure from Hillary and the other candidates cause it makes them look bad by association.

Then, he’ll resign in shame.

BacaDog on June 4, 2007 at 4:34 PM

Then, he’ll resign ~~in shame~~.

BacaDog on June 4, 2007 at 4:34 PM

Fixed. Shame is a foreign concept to the left.

thirteen28 on June 4, 2007 at 4:45 PM

Ahhh… but the Dem Congress will take a que from the UN… and he’ll soon be Co Chair of the Ethics Commitee… with Murtha…

Romeo13 on June 4, 2007 at 4:46 PM

I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop on the other Willian Jefferson “Clinton”…

http://www.dickmorris.com/blog/?p=88#more-88

This is a more detailed version of a column that was published in The New York Post on May 24, 2007.

Since he left office in 2001, former president Bill Clinton has been paid by InfoUSA, an Omaha, Nebraska company that has been identified as a key provider of specially designed databases that are sold to criminals who use the detailed information to defraud the unsuspecting elderly.

Because Senate financial disclosure rules do not require Hillary Clinton to reveal exactly how much — or for what — the company has paid her husband over the past five years, we don’t know all the details. But we do know this: former presidents – especially Bill Clinton – don’t come cheap. And, just months after he left the presidency, Bill Clinton was paid $200,000 for a speech given to InfoUSA in Omaha. Since then, he has been paid an undisclosed amount each year, listed only as “more than $1000” for ‘non-employee compensation” on Senator Clinton’s Senate financial disclosure form.

According to the The New York Times, InfoUSA compiled and sold lists that disclosed the names of elderly men and women who would be likely to respond to unscrupulous scams. The lists left no doubt about the vulnerability of the elderly targets. The Times reported, for example, that InfoUSA advertised lists of “Elderly Opportunity Seekers,” 3.3 million older people “looking for ways to make money,” and “Suffering Seniors,” 4.7 million people with cancer or Alzheimer’s disease. “Oldies but Goodies” contained 500,000 gamblers over 55 years old, for 8.5 cents apiece. One list said: “These people are gullible. They want to believe that their luck can change.”

InfoUSA sold lists to companies that were under investigation or closed down by courts because of their criminal activity. The company’s internal emails show that employees were aware that the investigation for elderly fraud involved their customers, but sold the lists anyway.

The Times profiled one unfortunate 92 year old man who entered a sweepstake sponsored by InfoUSA. The information that he innocently provided was then sold to the predator marketers. After responding to their telemarketing calls seeking financial information, his entire life savings was stolen from his bank account at Wachovia Bank. These practices, using lists supplied by InfoUSA were repeated all over the country.

doriangrey on June 4, 2007 at 4:47 PM

I’ll bet a year from now he’ll still be in Congress…

Yogurt on June 4, 2007 at 4:19 PM

Pppffffttt! Congress? Knowing the Dhimmicrats, he’ll probably be their Presidential nominee by then. Maybe we should offer him the title of “Supreme Dictator of Iraq” first (before the DNC beats us to it).

CyberCipher on June 4, 2007 at 4:49 PM

I’ll be shocked if he is convicted of anything.

tickleddragon on June 4, 2007 at 4:52 PM

Even if he is thrown in jail, kicked out of congress…he still gets to draw his pension and all the perks of a congressman, for life.

right2bright on June 4, 2007 at 4:54 PM

Tossed by the District court. His arresting officer didn’t have the air-conditioning on in the car.

Limerick on June 4, 2007 at 5:02 PM

The wheels of justice turn slow.

Hopefully he will get the punishment he deserves if he’s found guilty.

Scorched_Earth on June 4, 2007 at 5:06 PM

OT: Allah, where’s today’s open Headlines thread?

amerpundit on June 4, 2007 at 5:14 PM

Non-starter because our esteemed lawmakers are fast at work on bribery reform. It’s called Z-aquital, but only for a special class of criminal - congress.

locomotivebreath1901 on June 4, 2007 at 5:20 PM

I question the timing…

Jaibones on June 4, 2007 at 5:25 PM

Do you think he’ll react to his inditment like Jim Carey did in “Fun with Dick & Jane?”. Priceless!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=y2PLXFe93yc

journeyscarab on June 4, 2007 at 5:35 PM

U.S. Rep. William Jefferson has been charged with soliciting bribes and obstructing justice in a corruption scam spanning at least two continents, Justice Department officials said Monday.

CNN

CNN, in it’s summary of the indictment, fails to mention his party affiliation. MSNBC has the story buried on their web site. CBS, Fox and ABC actually identify him as a Dem in their summaries or headlines and they have it front and center. This is progress (at least in cyberspace) in that 3 of the 5 networks feel they have to honestly report this story. I’m not holding my breath for months-long stories (like the ones against Tom Delay). But it’s a start.

cmay on June 4, 2007 at 5:36 PM

…securing business deals in Nigeria and other African nations.

So, someone DID manage to get those frozen assets out of Nigeria.

Hmm…and here we were all thinking that it was a phishing scam.

James on June 4, 2007 at 5:50 PM

How long before the “racism” charge is leveled?

5…4…3…

SouthernGent on June 4, 2007 at 6:07 PM

“Cold Cash” is punchier than “Dollar Bill”

So that’s one crooked dem indicted in the past six years. How’s about a few more, like Reid, & DiFi?
What about those Democratic Senators joined at the hip to Jack “Toht” Abramoff?

Iblis on June 4, 2007 at 6:20 PM

How long before the “racism” charge is leveled?

5…4…3…

SouthernGent on June 4, 2007 at 6:07 PM

Here’s an idea for Sharpton/Jackson: That 90 grand in the freezer was actually going to be being delivered by Jefferson to Katrina victims. Because George Bush hates black people.

infidel4life on June 4, 2007 at 6:25 PM

In Chicago, “Dollar Bill” is the owner of the Blackhawks…

I do like “Cold Cash” better.

major john on June 4, 2007 at 6:27 PM

Won’t be long before the race card is played. He being picked on because he is black.

Fact is…he is just another democrat, a very typical democrat.

serenevalley on June 4, 2007 at 7:01 PM

Ace has a post saying the AP says he switched to “Independent”

Valiant on June 4, 2007 at 8:03 PM

For those kind of bucks, Jefferson could have wrangled himself a genuine Nigerian Chieftaincy. Lots of folks have them - quite similar to the buying oneself a lordship in England.
So, is this a curious little product of Clinton’s big African tour when the American Black political critters talked about economic deals with Africa? Africans never saw any useful or tangible results from all the Clinton hoopla, but the Democrats talked like real deals were made … evidently.

naliaka on June 4, 2007 at 10:33 PM