Rep. Jefferson Likely To Face Trial

Three Judge Appeals Court Panel Rules Against Dismissal On 16 Count Indictment Against Democratic Congressman

(AP)  A federal appeals court upheld bribery and other charges against Louisiana Democratic U.S. Rep. William Jefferson on Wednesday, clearing the way for a trial.

Jefferson, who cruised to victory in a primary last week and is expected to easily win re-election, had sought to dismiss a 16-count indictment charging him with taking bribes, laundering money and misusing his congressional office for business dealings in Africa.

A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Jefferson's claims that a federal grand jury received evidence that violated his constitutional right to legislative immunity.

Jefferson's attorneys argued that three staffers should not have been allowed to tell the grand jury about Jefferson's relationships with African leaders and his knowledge about West African nations because those activities were part of his legislative duties.

Jefferson could further delay a trial by appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court. A telephone message was left Wednesday with his attorney, Robert P. Trout.

Prosecutors contend Jefferson used his influence as chairman of the congressional Africa Investment and Trade Caucus to broker deals in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and other African nations on behalf of those who bribed him.

The 2007 indictment alleges that Jefferson received more than $500,000 in bribes and demanded millions more between 2000 and 2005, including $90,000 he received from an FBI informant that was later found in the freezer of his Washington home. He has pleaded not guilty.

U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III had refused to dismiss the indictment, saying Jefferson was trying to apply the legislative immunity clause so broadly that it would be virtually impossible to charge a congressman with a crime.

Ellis "accorded Congressman Jefferson every substantive and procedural protection to which he was entitled," the appeals court judges wrote.

Jefferson's trial had been scheduled to begin in December, but has been postponed. If convicted of all charges, he faces up to 235 years in prison.

Meanwhile, Jefferson, 61, Louisiana's first black congressman since Reconstruction, faces a Dec. 6 election against little-known Republican, Anh "Joseph" Cao in his New Orleans-based district. The district's election was pushed back because of Hurricane Gustav.

Last week, he easily won a Democratic primary runoff against a former television reporter who argued that the scandal had obliterated the influence Jefferson built during 18 years in Congress.

[marcodele]

A vote for Jefferson is like money in the fridge!

He''s going down, along with most of his corrupt family members.

[cattiej]

Why is Jefferson not in jail. I don''t care who he thinks he is or who else thinks he is, I''ll tell you his is a crook. How he got re-elected should be investigated..Did he pay people to vote for him or did his buddies strong arm people. The news people need to be all over this one, but where are they...talking to Sarah Palin, the dopey damm from Alaska. Shame on the networks for not doing their job on this one..and for God''s sake, stop interviewing the wicked witch of the North.

[hissteps4u]

This guy is guilty as sin for taking the Money and I can not wait to toast the Jury system which convicts Him to years in Prison.........

[kansas1946]

Good riddance, another corrupt polititian. Anyone who abuses their power, takes bribes, etc., should be in jail.

[colonieny]

ok, so the guy may have made a few mistakes. So what ?

[downsteamjim]

During Katrina when people were on house tops without food or water, Jefferson had emergency vehicles take him to his house. Rumor has it that Jefferson heard a warning that without power everything in your freezer would go bad and he didn''t want to lose his ill gotten gains.

[clovisbuford]

The news people need to be all over this one, but where are they...Posted by cattieJ at 06:35 PM : Nov 12, 2008errr this guy has been in the news for months , democrats stripped him of his clout , and his constituents relelected not only in the dem primary over the parties favored candidate but the general election . Is been covered pretty extensively.He will have to be convicted then , he can be removed , there is no cure for stupid voters no matter what party .

[jschmidt27]

So Pelosi can''t protect this guy? She''s protected Frank, who said Fannie is a great company while taking their campaign contributions and Rangel who despite being in charge of the tax code doesn''t know he has to report rental income. Or maybe Reid can help out since he''s protected Dodd who got the sweetheart mortgage from Countrywide. But should the ethics committee booted him out? Or is that only for Republicans? Silly me.

[rushlimpdrug]

Put this guy in the freezer.

[downsteamjim]

autumn987: Put the meds back in the cabinet.

[hotflush-2009]

put his black *** in jail

[aldon61]

Jefferson needs strong jail time and his electorate needs re-educating. Why in the h.ell did they re-elect this crook?
This has nothing at all to do with partisan politics, crooks on both sides need to be ousted and made an example of!

[aldon61]

put his black *** in jail


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Posted by hotflush at 09:47 PM : Nov 12, 2008
+ report abuse
Your racist side is showing A$$HOLE!

[citizenusa-2009]

Oh! My! We are holding our elected officials accountable now? Great news! Does this mean that the indictment of Bush and Cheney are not far behind? Could America be that fair? Stay tuned!

[citizenusa-2009]

By the way "pelosilover" your racist comments are old, tired and quite frankly dated. Try and keep up...we are no longer in the 1960''s.

[citizenusa-2009]

That also applies to the handful (or should I say "hand jobs") of you who don''t have anything intelligent to say, so you revert to bashing people that don''t share your skin color. Weird, and pathetic. Grow up.

[Scooter68]

Put Sen Stevens(GOP) and Rep jefferson (DEM) in the same jail cell.

AND if Stevens is re-elected, Palin can run to take his senate seat. Then by the time 2012 comes around she can claim as the more experience than Obama had when he was elected. Could be real fun.

[hbevis]

Put Sen Stevens(GOP) and Rep jefferson (DEM) in the same jail cell.

AND if Stevens is re-elected, Palin can run to take his senate seat. Then by the time 2012 comes around she can claim as the more experience than Obama had when he was elected. Could be real fun.

Posted by gscotth at 11:16 PM : Nov 12, 2008

SOUNDS LIKE A WIN/WIN/WIN DEAL TO ME..

[armydog2]

If he is guilty of a crime he should be punished just like that republican fool in Alaska.

[alanrobisch]

Oh! My! We are holding our elected officials accountable now? Great news! Does this mean that the indictment of Bush and Cheney are not far behind? Could America be that fair? Stay tuned!


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Posted by CitizenUSA at 10:20 PM : Nov 12, 2008
+ report abuse
you are a stone cold idiot. Doesn''t it seem even slightly more important that we focus on solving our economic problems but from what I have heard John conyers is still intent on investigating the last administration. sort of like fiddling while rome burns.

also note the fact that Jefferson was bribed only proves we all fail and black or white we are prone to sin. It also proves that beloved dems can be just as corrupt as the republicans. both human

[earache4]

GOP = Going On Parole....