Mike Irwin
Staff
the most ethical people on the face of the planet. Or so it would seem if you listen to Nancy Pelosi...
I guess not, though...
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic Rep. William Jefferson (news, bio, voting record) was indicted on Monday on 16 criminal counts including soliciting bribes and paying off a Nigerian official, a U.S. Justice Department official said.
The lengthy 94-page indictment also charges Jefferson with racketeering, soliciting bribes for his family, fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice, conspiracy and violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the official said.
Jefferson, who has denied any wrongdoing, faces a maximum of 235 years in prison if convicted.
The FBI said it caught Jefferson on videotape accepting $100,000 cash intended as a bribe for a Nigerian official, and that $90,000 of that money was found hidden in a freezer in Jefferson's house.
The investigation has focused on whether the Louisiana lawmaker used his position to promote the sale of telecommunications equipment and services offered by a Louisville-based firm to Nigeria, Ghana, and possibly other African nations in return for stock and cash payments.
Jefferson won re-election to a ninth term in Congress in November when voters shrugged off the federal bribery investigation.
November Democrats won control of the U.S. Congress from Bush's Republicans last year, promising to end a "culture of corruption."
Most of the scandals that have rocked Capitol Hill in recent years involved Republicans, many of them briberies tied to now-convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
I guess not, though...
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic Rep. William Jefferson (news, bio, voting record) was indicted on Monday on 16 criminal counts including soliciting bribes and paying off a Nigerian official, a U.S. Justice Department official said.
The lengthy 94-page indictment also charges Jefferson with racketeering, soliciting bribes for his family, fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice, conspiracy and violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the official said.
Jefferson, who has denied any wrongdoing, faces a maximum of 235 years in prison if convicted.
The FBI said it caught Jefferson on videotape accepting $100,000 cash intended as a bribe for a Nigerian official, and that $90,000 of that money was found hidden in a freezer in Jefferson's house.
The investigation has focused on whether the Louisiana lawmaker used his position to promote the sale of telecommunications equipment and services offered by a Louisville-based firm to Nigeria, Ghana, and possibly other African nations in return for stock and cash payments.
Jefferson won re-election to a ninth term in Congress in November when voters shrugged off the federal bribery investigation.
November Democrats won control of the U.S. Congress from Bush's Republicans last year, promising to end a "culture of corruption."
Most of the scandals that have rocked Capitol Hill in recent years involved Republicans, many of them briberies tied to now-convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.