IN HIS FREEZER!
Posted at 11:08am on Jul. 4, 2008 Rep. Wm. Jefferson (D-LA): Not Guilty of Bribery, Because He's a Thief
By Vladimir
Or so goes the apparent defense that Jefferson's attorney will mount in his Dec. 2 trial on corruption and bribery charges.
Jefferson will be a Superdelegate at the Democratic national Convention Aug. 25-28 in Denver.
Bribery defense hinges on risky tack
Jefferson has promised an "honorable explanation" will be provided at his trial, which is scheduled for Dec. 2, and has so far declined to elaborate.
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Posted at 11:44am on Jun. 21, 2008 Sister of Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) Cops a Plea
By Vladimir
Jefferson sibling pleads guilty in fraud
Bill Jefferson's sister Brenda copped a plea on Wednesday, agreeing to exchange testimony against brother Mose, sister Betty Jefferson, and neice Angela Coleman in exchange for a lesser charge of misprison of a felony -- basically, knowledge of and failure to report a crime.
Dealing a blow to her family's hang-tough legal posture, Brenda Jefferson, the youngest sister of embattled U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, pleaded guilty Wednesday to concealing her knowledge of a conspiracy to skim money from nonprofit groups controlled by relatives.
The plea marked the first admission of guilt by a member of the Jefferson family, five of whom have been charged with federal crimes in the past year.
In doing so, Brenda Jefferson agreed to provide truthful cooperation, according to her plea agreement. A summary of the government's case against her, which she signed, says she knew of and participated in various schemes being carried out by relatives who are now facing corruption charges. Brenda Jefferson also said that two of her family members charged in the charity scandal made out checks to her from the charities' accounts, then forged the endorsement and deposited the money in their own accounts.
While Brenda's testimony may not directly bear on the bribery and racketeering charges against Bill, it is the first crack in the previously solid wall presented by the Jefferson clan.
Rep. Jefferson will serve his party at its August convention as a superdelegate, as will Mose Jefferson's Main Squeeze Renee Gill-Pratt. Rep. Jefferson has declared his intention to run for reelection this fall. His Federal trail is scheduled for December.
In today's editorial, the Times-Picayune calls for Bill to step aside.
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Posted at 8:28am on Jun. 15, 2008 LA-02: Reelection Prospects of Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA)
By Vladimir
Well, this should be entertaining.
Odds facing Rep. Jefferson's re-election bid grow longer
In a nutshell, in the district, Democrats have a 6-1 edge. This is the first time 'round for closed primaries and a Dem vs Repub runoff in the general. The three day qualifying period closes July 11.
State Sen. Karen Carter (D), who Jefferson narrowly beat in the last election, may or may not run. State Sen. Derrick Shepherd (D), who ran third, is facing Federal money-laundering charges and will not run.
The fallout [from the scandals revolving around Jefferson, his entire extended family, his political machine, and everyone in Orleans Parish named "Jefferson"] appears to have put a serious crimp in William Jefferson's fundraising. Heading into the 2006 election, he had a $325,000 war chest. Jefferson's latest finance report shows that as of March 31, he had $57,000 in the bank, plus more than $255,000 in debt. The latter sum included nearly $190,000 of his own money loaned to the 2006 campaign.
[snip]
With Jefferson enmeshed in controversy, challengers have begun to eye his seat, which represents most of New Orleans, most of Jefferson Parish's West Bank and parts of south Kenner. Though nearly a month remains before the July 9 start of the three-day qualifying period, state Rep. Cedric Richmond of New Orleans and Jefferson Parish Councilman Byron Lee announced last week that they are running. Former WDSU-TV news anchor Helena Moreno is expected to declare her candidacy July 8. All three are Democrats.
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