Ex-congressman (William Jefferson) on trial over freezer cash, bribery

[sabra]

Source: AP

Associated Press Writer= ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — The $90,000 in cash found in the freezer of a former Louisiana congressman charged with taking bribes is evidence of nothing more than a failed FBI sting, a defense lawyer told jurors Tuesday.

William Jefferson, a Democrat who represented parts of New Orleans, is accused of soliciting bribes, racketeering, money laundering and other crimes. Prosecutors say he received more than $500,000 and sought millions more in exchange for using his influence to broker business deals in Africa.

In opening statements Tuesday in U.S. District Court, defense lawyer Robert Trout addressed at the outset what he called the "elephant in the room" — the cash that was found in the freezer in Jefferson's Washington home.

Trout said that if one accepts the government's theory of the case, the money would never have been in the freezer. Instead, the congressman would have used the money to pay a bribe to the then-vice president of Nigeria.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/8561610

[libodem]

1. this is my take

and it will kill the thread. Sorry. Re-post it,later. I believe that William Jefferson was targeted by Rove much the same way Siegalman was. I think this has taken so long to come to trial because it's been an ace up the Republican Playbook sleeve. I'm pretty sure this is a clear case of entrapment. And that will come out. Now that our guy Al Frankin is due to show up in congress and we'll be assured of a super-majority, somebody has to go down. That's just my take. He black, and a Democrat, Rove must have hated him from day one and set about to set him up. This smells of the same tactics that were used to smoke out the infamous 'sleeper cells' in America. You send agents into a loosely formed group of guys and start talking shit about guns and money. Just my delirious conspiracy theories working over time. Excussse me.

[MNDemNY]

3. My take is he is a crook.

[nyy1998]

5. Agreed

Sigelman was framed. Jefferson is as corrupt as you can get.

[AllTooEasy]

8. I'm Black and I couldn't agree more...F 'em

[WriteDown]

4. Yep....

And Rove drove the National Guard vehicle which brought him to his house right after Katrina in an attempt to get said cash. :rofl:

[DatManFromNawlins]

7. Wrong.

Jefferson is about as corrupt as it gets. It's largely why the DNC hasn't made a stink about his criminal trial. He's guilty, they know he's guilty, and everyone in New Orleans knows he's guilty. All of us down here were just wondering when he was going to get caught. And if you think it's just the money in the freezer, then you better look again. Jefferson is hoping to get off on a technicality to he can re-establish power in the district, which is the only reason he hasn't plead guilty.

While I don't think Cao will ultimately represent the district past the next election, I do think the guy will at least keep his nose clean until he gets voted out, which is the first time that district can say that about their Rep. in a long, long time.

[downindixie]

2. I believe that the fact that he took

the money is evidence of a crime and what he did with it has little influence on the judge or jury.

[benld74]

6. Gott say, that was some COLD cash,,,,

[angrycarpenter]

9. I am tired of conservatives throwing this in our faces.

It should have went to trial already and been settled.