‘The FBI not only caught Democrat William Jefferson on videotape accepting marked bills under his dinner table at the Ritz Hotel, but later found those bills stored amongst $90,000 similar bills in the freezer of his Washington, DC townhouse.’
This is how I expressed my cynicism about and consternation over the fact that – despite overwhelming evidence of his criminal enterprise – Rep William Jefferson (D-LA) was still re-elected to Congress last November. Notwithstanding the gullible (or stupid) voters in his district, however, I felt so confident that – in due course – his day of reckoning would come that I ended the above-referenced article as follows:
‘But saving his job is one thing. Beating FBI charges against him is quite another. Indeed, I suspect Jefferson’s victory will prove pyrrhic at best. Because it only means that when he’s indicted (within months) on federal bribery charges, his arrest as a sitting Congressman will be all the more politically embarrassing for Democratic leaders – who just regained control of Congress by promising to rid it of corruption.’
Therefore, I was not at all surprised yesterday when federal prosecutors announced a 16-count indictment against Jefferson (an eight-term member of the US Congress) on charges of racketeering, soliciting bribes and money-laundering, all of which carry a penalty of over 200 years in jail. In fact prosecutors allege that Jefferson:
‘…traded on his good offices to enrich himself and his family in a pervasive pattern of self-dealing, fraud, bribery and corruption that spanned many years and two continents.’
And, just as I predicted this indictment, I predict that Jefferson will be found guilty and imprisoned for the rest of his life…and deservedly so!
[Feds indict Congressman Jefferson … I told you so! TIJ, June 5, 2007]
With that background information from previous commentaries, I trust it will come as no surprise to any of you that a federal jury convicted this former US Congressman on 11 of those 16 counts last Wednesday.
Jefferson, 62, now faces up to 20 years on each count – for a total of 220 years. But perhaps he’ll derive some consolation from the fact that the judge can only sentence him to a maximum of 150 years, which was Bernie Madoff’s fate. Sentencing is scheduled for October 30, 2009.
We have been reminded today that we are a nation of laws, and not men. It should be a clear signal that no public official – and certainly not a US Congressman – can put their office up for sale and betray that office… And today, a jury of his peers held Congressman Jefferson accountable for his actions.
(Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia)
Good Riddance Mr Jefferson…
Related commentaries:
Feds indict Congressman Jefferson
Jefferson finally booted from office…
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