Ex-Rep. Jefferson Sentenced to 13 Years

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»

(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»

All pols have bribes in the freezer, Jefferson's lawyer contends

(NEWSER) - Former Rep. William Jefferson’s lawyer tried a novel defense tactic in his closing arguments yesterday: putting all of the political class on trial. Sure, his client had stashed bribe money in his freezer—but hasn’t everyone, metaphorically speaking? “We all occupy the gray area,” said attorney Robert Trout. “We’re all going to make mistakes.” He acted as if trying to bribe the vice president of Nigeria “was tantamount to exceeding the speed limit,” writes Dana Milbank of the Washington Post. 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»

Feds say Jefferson took bribes, had $90K stashed in his freezer

(NEWSER) - Jury selection began today in the trial of former Louisiana Rep. William Jefferson, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. The Democrat is charged with taking bribes and using his office to set up business deals in Africa. “It is good to have my family with me,” he said as he arrived at the courthouse in Virginia. In 2005, federal investigators traced $90,000 from an informant to Jefferson’s freezer. More»