I think it’s probably fair to say Rep. [tag]William Jefferson[/tag] (D-La.) will not be missed by the Dem caucus.
A Kentucky technology executive pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges of [tag]bribing[/tag] a member of Congress in an investigation that has centered on Representative William J. Jefferson, a Louisiana Democrat.
While court papers have not referred to Representative Jefferson by name, they leave no doubt that the congressman and his family are the focus of the Justice Department’s investigation. Mr. Jefferson’s homes in New Orleans and Washington were searched last year by federal agents.
The Kentucky businessman, Vernon L. Jackson, chairman of iGate Inc., based in Louisville, offered his plea in Federal District Court in Alexandria, Va., admitting guilt to one count of bribing a public official and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
Mr. Jackson acknowledged that he had paid $367,500 over four years to a company controlled by the family of a member of Congress described in court papers only as “Representative A, a member of the House of Representatives.” In exchange, the court papers say, the lawmaker helped promote iGate’s technology products to federal agencies, as well as to African governments and companies.
Recently, when a House Republican faces a controversy like this one, the GOP caucus rallies behind him or her, even when it came to some of the more comically corrupt instances, such as Duke Cunningham. Hoping to show the difference between the parties, Minority Leader [tag]Nancy Pelosi[/tag] called for a full [tag]investigation[/tag] into Jefferson.
Q Congresswoman Pelosi, you are standing in front of a sign that says “Honest Leadership, Open Government.” Your party has also take up the mantra of the culture of corruption, pointing the finger at the GOP. And yet yesterday, [a businessman] plead guilty to bribing [Congressman Jefferson] for $400,000. A couple weeks ago, Congressman Mollohan stepped aside from the Ethic Committee while his name is under investigation. Do you think that perhaps you have to change the sign?
Ms. Pelosi. No. The sign is truer than ever. A culture of corruption is a system in this Congress of the United States that the Republicans have instituted. The Washington Post has called it a “criminal enterprise operating out of” the Republican Leader’s office. It is about all the Republican Caucus enabling their Caucus to have a strong link to the lobbying community at the expense of America’s consumers.
In the case of Mr. Jefferson, I think the Ethics Committee should investigate him. It is his private matter, and he should be investigated because of the stories that have been in the press and the guilty plea that you mentioned yesterday. That is his business; that’s not ours.
Q Have you spoken with Congressman Jefferson to ask him whether or not…
Ms. Pelosi. No. When I know there is a criminal investigation going on I don’t speak to the person. I just don’t, [tag]Democrat[/tag] or [tag]Republican[/tag]. But he knows what is going on, and the [tag]Ethics Committee[/tag] should investigate what is going on.
Q When you have a situation when a businessman has pled guilty to giving a bribe to a Member of Congress should not the Member of Congress who received that bribe also immediately fess up, plead guilty, and take his penalty?
Ms. Pelosi. Well if he is guilty he should. There is a due process involved here. My responsibility is not what that person does; my responsibility is upholding an ethical standard here. And the Ethics Committee, just as they should have with all of the Republicans that we have talked about over and over again that they have neglected to investigate, they should investigate the Democrats and they should investigate the Republicans. But the Republicans are all tied together, the names we put forth, under the name of Jack Abramoff. And again, a criminal enterprise operating out of the Leader’s office.
Mr. Jefferson is his own behavior, he is responsible for it. The Ethics Committee should investigate him.
Good for her. There’s no reason for Dems to show any tolerance for Jefferson’s conduct. Does Jefferson deserve the presumption of innocence? Of course; everyone does. But we’re also the party striving to clean up a pretty serious GOP mess. Jefferson should step aside, work on his defense, and not expect anyone on the Hill to return his phone calls until or unless he’s exonerated.