Nigerian wanted a cut, tape says (Jefferson Probe)

[funkybutt]

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1149574250298360.xml&coll=1

Unsealed probe records quote Jefferson identify vice president

WASHINGTON -- Rep. William Jefferson told a business associate that the vice president of Nigeria was demanding half the profits of a telecommunications partnership the congressman was involved with, according to court records unsealed Monday.

-snip-

He also told her in a separate wiretapped call that YahYah was critical to the success of the venture in Nigeria.

"We need him," Jefferson told her over dinner in Washington. "We got to motivate him real good. He's got a lot of folks to pay off."

-snip-

"If he's gotta pay Minister X, we don't want to know," Jefferson said. "It's not our deal. We're not paying Minister X a damn thing. That's all, you know, international fraud crap. We're not doing that. . . . Whatever they do locally, that's their business."

*comment* they sure are releasing a lot of "evidence" for a case that hasn't even gone to indictment yet. Anyone know what that's about?

[Kagemusha]

1. The article explains well enough.

The court agreed to unseal information used to justify a search of the Nigerian minister's residence in question in relation to the Jefferson probe. Apparently they used Jefferson's perceived corruption as the justification in this case. So who's "they"? Because you seem to be arguing the FBI released this information on its own as propaganda. You realize that court proceedings aren't supposed to be secret by default in the United States, right? At least before this Guantanamo business.

[funkybutt]

2. not arguing really

I'm just curious. The media requested that the information be released. I guess, my main question is why hasn't he been indicted. Isn't this unusual to have so much information about a case before an indictment?

[Kagemusha]

4. Not when the media's asking for this in a high profile case.

In a case like this only things like national security considerations might make courts reluctant to deal with this in the public domain. There's no such considerations here.

[struggle4progress]

8. Uh, large portions of the affidavit were redacted before release.

[Igel]

3. A lot of European countries have played

footsie by offering bribes. Frequently the governments turn a blind eye to it; but in the case of some high profile companies, they've been indicted. I think Volkwagen was one of them. Again, involving Nigeria, where corruption and bribery are rampant.

Some US firms have also been accused, and some, IIRC, also indicted.

The argument against indictment is that some other large countries have no problem with bribery, and get the business. Hence some European governments have traditionally looked the other way.

The argument for indictment is that we're supposed to be better.

[BlueInPhilly]

5. He said he was a prince...

with money locked away in a Swiss bank account! And all Jeff wanted to do was try to get his money back. Yeah, that's what it was!

[TX-RAT]

6. LOL, too funny

[Fight_n_back]

7. Its why you should never answer Nigerian SPAM

We've all gotten the EMail from the Nigerian millionaire who needs youir help to launder his money. One would have hoped that a member of the US House of Representatives could have seen throught the scam.