William Jefferson verdict: Guilty on 11 of 16 counts

[funkybutt]

Source: Times Picayune, New Orleans

Former Democratic Congressman William Jefferson was found guilty of 11 of 16 corruption charges today by a federal jury.

The jury of eight women and four men returned a guilty verdict following five days of deliberation.

In the 16-count indictment, Jefferson was charged with soliciting bribes and other crimes for a series of schemes in which he helped American businesses broker deals in West African in exchange for payments or financial considerations to companies controlled by members of his family, including his brother Mose, his wife, Andrea, their five daughters and a son-in-law.

Read more: http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/william_jefferson_verdict_guil.html

[Wickerman]

1. Dumbass n/t

[WriteDown]

2. That's cold. NT.

[zbdent]

12. okay, you get the pun of the month award ...

verrrrry subtle ...

[ejpoeta]

3. will he still get his benefits of being a congressman??? does he get a pension??

[joeybee12]

4. Good. I bet if he had been found not guilty he would have tried to

run for his old seat.

[marshall]

8. He may still do it

It worked for Marion "The Bitch Set Me Up" Barry. They can even use his old slogan--"He may not be perfect, but he's perfect for D.C."

[joeybee12]

10. I wouldn't put it past him...

...maybe he won't be able to do it in 2010 and maybe the Dems there will wise up and stand someone who sin't so corrupt and get one of the safest democratic seats in the country back in democratic hands.

[bluestateguy]

5. Gee are we allowed to criticize him now?

I keep thinking of all the people 3 years ago who would not permit any criticism of William "The Refrigirator" Jefferson because he had not been convicted of anything. He overstayed his welcome in Congress and by running for reelection cost us a safe seat in 2008.

Well, NOW do we have your permission to say something critical of him?

[vadawg]

7. i dont need permission to call him corrupt and a crook

who hopefully will do some jail time, politicians i believe should be held to the highest standard possible, but often they are not held to any standard and their behaviour excused...

[funkybutt]

11. Yes! By all means

Please feel free to share your criticism.

:hi:

[defendandprotect]

16. Actually, didn't the Democrats move to have him investigated? I thought so??

[Clear Blue Sky]

6. Good riddance.

[GrantDem]

9. Do the crime. Do the time.

[timeforpeace]

13. How soon before we hear "Free The William Jefferson One" being chanted?

[funkybutt]

14. When do we get to hear the "Honorable Explanation"?

Mr. Jefferson has promised for years that there is a perfectly "honorable explanation" for his frozen assets.

[lakercub]

15. There was one thing I liked about Jefferson

When Republicans were committing crimes left and right, and their backers refused to admit any of it, it was nice to be able to say that, as democrats we, at least, were willing to go after our own if they were obviously crooks. When Delay was running roughshod through congress many of my coworkers just refused to believe the guy was a crook...and then they would say something like "if he was a democrat, you wouldn't care a bit." Well Jefferson gave me the ammo to point out that I obviously do care if someone in my party is a crook. So thank you William Jefferson for keeping me from hypocrisy. Your crooked behavior was so blatant that it made it easy for me to show that I would go after you even if you had a D by your name.

[Hippo_Tron]

17. No we really weren't willing to go after our own

Nancy Pelosi should've stripped him of his committees and every serious Democrat should've come to New Orleans to campaign for Karen Carter in the special election in 2006. Now we're stuck with Joseph Cao for another year and a half because of this asshole.

[Indydem]

18. Yep, agreed. NT

[Demeter]

20. We Should Have Gone After Nancy, Too

as a traitor and oath-breaker.

[lakercub]

28. Heh...

sorry...I meant me personally...which was abundantly unclear. I seem to recall Pelosi stripped him of some positions and then gave them right back after a certain amount of time. Basically, she did nothing.

[bertman]

19. Grey areas of corruption. Is that a legal euphemism?

[DeSwiss]

21. Now, off to the cooler with ya.....

[goclark]

29. Go straight to Jail and no get out Free card

:puke: A Democrat acting like a Republican.

[blueclown]

22. Next up: Tom Delay.

... right?

... right?

[eppur_se_muova]

23. Yeah, the Jefferson thing was diverting DOJ resources away from The Hamper. nt

:sarcasm:

[eppur_se_muova]

24. self-delete

[eppur_se_muova]

25. Bu**sh** DOJ investigates Jefferson (D), gets conviction.

Bu**sh** DOJ investigates Stevens(R), case falls apart.

Compare and contrast.

[onethatcares]

26. so he should do some jail time,club fed would probably

be not so bad for him.

The problem with the entire thing about money and our senators, they can have it without anyone blinking an eye if the money is given to their leadership council, their re election campaign, and all other various and sundry dodges they've come up with over the years. Just ask Max Baccus

[ButterflyBlood]

27. Good

Well deserved for that crook who fucked us over.