My Client's Corrupt, But Who Isn't?

Power is with Obama, Senate Democrats, and House Republicans: Dana Milbank

(NEWSER) - With Congress split between the two parties, power in Washington is about President Obama, Senate Democrats, and House Republicans (and, thanks to the filibuster , Senate Republicans). But House Democrats? Not so much, writes Dana Milbank in the Washington Post . "[T]here is no dignity in being a House Democrat these days," he writes. While the power brokers hammer out deals, "House Democrats often find out what’s going on by watching cable news." More»

Pol busted with $90K in freezer betrays little emotion

(NEWSER) - A federal judge sentenced former Congressman William Jefferson to 13 years in prison today, less than the 27-plus years prosecutors called for but more than the 10-year term the Louisiana Democrat's lawyer wanted. Jefferson, who was convicted in August of 11 of the 16 counts relating to the public corruption case against him, has already said he will appeal. More»

Lawyers argue 'more equal' PM shouldn't be prosecuted

(NEWSER) - All Italians are equal but some are more equal than others, according to lawyers seeking to prevent Silvio Berlusconi from standing trial on corruption charges. A constitutional court examining the legitimacy of a law shielding prime ministers from prosecution—which was introduced by Berlusconi himself—was told the leader is no longer "first among equals," but "first above equals." Outraged opposition pointed out that the logic resembles a rationalization presented in a sinister future depicted in George Orwell's Animal Farm. More»

(AP) - A federal jury convicted a former Louisiana congressman today of taking bribes on 11 of 16 counts in a case in which agents found $90,000 in his freezer. Former Rep. William Jefferson, a Democrat who had represented parts of New Orleans, was accused of accepting more than $400,000 in bribes and seeking millions more in exchange for brokering business deals in Africa. He was convicted of charges including bribery, racketeering, and money laundering. More»

My client was drunk, stupid, sleazy—oh, and black, argues Jefferson's lawyer

(NEWSER) - What do you say when you’re defending William Jefferson, on trial for allegedly taking $100,000 in bribe money and hiding it in his freezer? Pretty much whatever the heck you can think of, writes Dana Milbank of the Washington Post. The lawyer for the then-Congressman opened his defense yesterday with a crack about “frozen assets” before arguing that his client was sleazy and stupid, but not technically guilty. More»