May 22, 2006 6:36 AM

Another DUMB@$$ AWARD wiener

FBI Readying Monster Bribery Case against Jefferson

FBI Raid Angers Some on Hill; Feds Probe Additional Jefferson “Schemes”

Documents Allege Rep. Jefferson Caught on Tape Taking Bribe

DUMB@$$ AWARD wiener #380: Rep. William Jefferson (R-LA)

WASHINGTON — A congressman under investigation for bribery was caught on videotape accepting $100,000 in $100 bills from an FBI informant whose conversations with the lawmaker also were recorded, according to a court document released Sunday. Agents later found the cash hidden in his freezer. At one audiotaped meeting, Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., chuckles about writing in code to keep secret what the government contends was his corrupt role in getting his children a cut of a communications company’s deal for work in Africa.

$100,000 in a freezer?? Damn, anyone with any common sense at all knows to keep money in the lettuce cripser of your refrigerator….

Well, fair is fair, I suppose. If I’m going to pillory Republicans like Tom DeLay, Randy Cunningham, and Jack Abramoff for their overaching arrogance and corruption, it stands to reason that I should also shine the light on Democrats who may be guilty of the same sin. So it is with Lousiana Congressman William Jefferson, who seems to be suffering from a non-functional ethical and moral compass.

Of course, corruption hardly respects or recognizes party lines. Republicans may have corruption and venality down to an art form, but Democrats are hardly novices (see Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-WV)- nor are they immune to the siren call of riches and privilege. Sadly, it appears that William Jefferson may have sold his position and influence a few too many times for his own good.

Hmm…let’s go to the checklist, shall we? Large sums of cash? Check. Influence-peddling? Check? Doing favors for American corporations? Check. Corrupt machinations caught on video tape? Check. Large sums of cash stashed in the freezer? Check. Yep, we got it all here….

Man, I’m in the wrong damn line of work….

Documents filed in support of the search show that the Justice Department is assembling a wide-ranging case against the veteran Democratic lawmaker. At this time, Jefferson is being investigated for bribery, wire fraud, bribery of a foreign official and conspiracy to bribe foreign officials, according to an affidavit filed by an FBI agent in support of the search warrant.

But the Justice Department and FBI agents are also looking at “least seven other schemes in which Congressman Jefferson sought things of value in return for official acts, the affidavit states. That suggests that additional avenues for prosecuting Jefferson could be revealed soon.

The FBI has two confidential witnesses who are offering testimony against Jefferson, as well as undercover audio and videotapes of him allegedly asking for and receiving bribes worth potentially millions of dollars in exchange for his help in putting together African telecommunications deals for U.S. firms, according to the affidavit.

Yes, I enjoy hammering Republicans for their corruption and arrogance, of which there seems to be no lack. Unfortunately, when Democrats are guilty of the same behavior, as it appears that Rep. Jefferson may well be, that makes me even angrier. With all of the work we on the Left have to do in order to restore the American sheeple’s trust in our ability to lead, Jefferson’s willingness to line his own pockets (and his freezer) certainly isn’t doing the Democratic Party any favors.

With any luck, Jefferson will be sharing a cell with Jim Traficant. They probably deserve each other…and yes,

WE DESERVE BETTER.

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on May 22, 2006 6:36 AM.

Another TPRS Public Service was the previous entry in this blog.

Blessed are those of who can laugh at ourselves, for we shall forever be able to laugh at Michelle Malkin is the next entry in this blog.

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