Jefferson Aide To Answer Grand Jury Questions

A top aide to Democratic Rep. William Jefferson of Louisiana has agreed to answer questions before a federal grand jury.

Stephanie Bulter, Jefferson’s district director, sent a note to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) Wednesday to notify the speaker that she agreed to appear before the U.S. District Court for the eastern district of Virginia.

“After consultation with the office of general counsel, I have determined that compliance with the subpoena is consistent with the precedents and privileges of the House,” Butler wrote in a letter that was read on the House floor Wednesday afternoon.

The FBI raided Jefferson’s congressional offices last year in an ongoing probe into whether the Louisiana Democrat accepted bribes to help American technology firms do business in Africa.

A phone call to Jefferson's Washington office went straight to voicemail.