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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: William Jefferson

William Jefferson stories: 17 news summaries
cold hard cash

 Ex-Rep. Jefferson 
 Sentenced to 
 13 Years  

Pol busted with $90K in freezer betrays little emotion

Nov 13, 09 5:19 PM CST
(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... More »

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Nigeria • federal courts • William Jefferson • Louisiana • bribery • House of Representatives • Democrat • money laundering • racketeering • House Democrats • public corruption • William Jefferson sentenced

(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... More »

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New Orleans • congressman • William Jefferson • Louisiana • bribery • political scandal • William Jefferson sentenced

politics on trial

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

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

Jul 30, 09 8:50 AM CDT
(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... More »

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William Jefferson • Louisiana • bribery • Democrat • attorney • corruption trial • Dana Milbank • William Jefferson sentenced

OPINION

With Friends Like These...

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

Jun 17, 09 10:48 AM CDT
(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... More »

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William Jefferson • Louisiana • bribery • corruption • trial • Democrat • court • lawyer • attorney • Dana Milbank • Robert Trout • William Jefferson sentenced

Corruption Trial of Ex-Louisiana Rep Kicks Off

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

Jun 9, 09 1:59 PM CDT
(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... More »

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Congress • Washington DC • William Jefferson • Louisiana • bribery • corruption • House of Representatives • clinical trials • federal prosecution • William Jefferson sentenced

Supreme Court Shoots Down Jefferson's Appeal

But will review Conrad Black's conviction

May 18, 09 11:44 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Supreme Court today refused to hear William Jefferson’s appeal, meaning the former New Orleans congressman’s corruption case is headed for trial, the Times-Picayune reports. The court will, however, consider overturning the fraud conviction against former media mogul Conrad Black and two of his compatriots. More »

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fraud • William Jefferson • appeal • Conrad Black • US Supreme Court • corruption trial • William Jefferson sentenced

OPINION

 Politicians We'll Miss in 2009 

Cheney's delightful brand of unrepentant evil simply unequaled

Dec 26, 08 12:29 PM CST
(Newser) - The election is over, a political era is ending, and a number of this year's frequent headline-makers will step out of the spotlight in 2009. Politico gets misty-eyed about its favorites:
  • Dick Cheney: Who else would tell a senior senator to “go f*** himself”? Who else, when
... More »

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Dick Cheney • politics • Chuck Hagel • William Jefferson • list • Ted Stevens • Alan Colmes

Narrow Ohio
Dem Victory Boosts House Majority to 79

Kilroy snatches 21st seat from GOP

Dec 8, 08 1:53 AM CST
(Newser) - The last outstanding contest for the House of Representatives is over, with Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy declared the winner in a tight Ohio contest, boosting the Democratic majority to 79 seats. Kilroy is the first Democrat in a generation elected to the House in her county. Her victory over state... More »

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Ohio • William Jefferson • House of Representatives • Deborah Pryce • Hurricane Gustav • Mary Jo KIlroy • Steve Stivers • Joseph Cao • John Fleming • Paul Carmouche

Indicted La. Rep Jefferson Loses to GOP Newbie

Victor becomes first Vietnamese-American in Congress

Dec 7, 08 1:37 PM CST
(Newser) - An election delay caused by Hurricane Gustav likely helped tip the vote away from scandal-plagued Louisiana Rep. William Jefferson, whose nine-term Congressional career came to an unexpected end yesterday, the Times-Picayune reports. Republican newbie Anh "Joseph" Cao unseated the 2nd district’s incumbent African-American Democrat in an election marked... More »

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Congress • New Orleans • William Jefferson • Louisiana • bribery • corruption • indictment • Election 2008 • election • William Jefferson sentenced

New Take on
Old Law Stymies FBI Probes of Congress

Constitutional clause being used as shield

Nov 1, 08 1:14 PM CDT
(Newser) - The FBI is doing its best to root out corruption on Capitol Hill—Robert Mueller called it the bureau’s “top criminal priority”—but investigators are being thwarted by a new twist on a constitutional provision, the Washington Post reports. The “speech or debate” clause was... More »

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Congress • investigation • FBI • John Doolittle • Tom DeLay • William Jefferson • corruption • Ted Stevens • Rick Renzi • speech or debate clause

OPINION

 Worst Members of Congress 

Esquire lists the public servants most wasting your money today

Oct 18, 08 3:33 AM CDT
(Newser) - The competition for the worst member of Congress title was more like a marathon, Esquire reports; a wide field of people worked over long periods of time to stake their places in this list. Below, the worst of the worst:
  • Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn: Since being defeated in 2006
... More »

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Congress • William Jefferson • Joe Lieberman • John Cornyn • Election 2008 • Esquire • Michele Bachmann • William Jefferson sentenced

Black Caucus Has Indicted Rep's Back

La. lawmaker who redefined 'frozen assets' holds support

Oct 12, 08 7:49 PM CDT
(Newser) - Bribery charges and $90,000 discovered in a freezer haven't stopped black lawmakers from backing one of their own, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. US Rep. William Jefferson is facing trial and dwindling support in his Katrina-ravaged district, but the Congressional Black Caucus still has his back—and enough Capitol... More »

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William Jefferson • bribery • trial • Congressional Black Caucus

Supreme Court Stands Pat on FBI Raid of Rep's Office

Separation of powers violated, appeals ruled

Mar 31, 08 1:24 PM CDT
(Newser) - The Supreme Court declined today to hear an appeal of a ruling that the FBI violated separation-of-powers law in a 2006 raid on the office of Rep. William Jefferson, the New York Times reports. Though the raid itself was not unconstitutional, an appeals court found, the FBI went too far... More »

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Congress • FBI • William Jefferson • bribery • corruption • House of Representatives • US Supreme Court • separation of powers • William Jefferson sentenced

Jefferson Wins Round, Return of Documents

Appeals court says FBI violated indicted congressman’s rights

Aug 3, 07 6:51 PM CDT
(Newser) - Rep. William Jefferson scored a legal victory today, winning the return of privileged materials from a FBI raid on his office. An appeals court said the raid itself was not unconstitutional, but the search of legislative materials was illegal. It’s unclear whether the ruling will affect the 16-count indictment... More »

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FBI • William Jefferson • bribery • court • raid • William Jefferson sentenced

Jefferson Pleads Not Guilty

Congressman answers federal corruption charges with pledge to 'fight my heart out'

Jun 8, 07 12:13 PM CDT
(Newser) - In his first public appearance since being indicted Monday, Rep. William Jefferson pleaded not guilty in federal court in this morning. The Louisiana Democrat, facing a laundry list of charges including bribery, racketeering, and obstruction of justice, then held a press conference in which he reeled off his family's achievements... More »

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ethics • investigation • William Jefferson • Louisiana • bribery • corruption • racketeering • obstruction of justice • corruption charges • William Jefferson sentenced

House Moves to Expel Accused Congressman

Louisiana Democrat charged with bribery, extortion

Jun 6, 07 6:22 AM CDT
(Newser) - Pressure mounted on William Jefferson to resign from the House yesterday as leaders of both parties piled on in the wake of his indictment on corruption, racketeering and bribery charges. Republicans moved to initiate proceedings to have the Louisiana Democrat, expelled—which, Dems noted, they did not do when GOP... More »

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ethics • investigation • William Jefferson • Louisiana • bribery • corruption • House of Representatives • resignation • racketeering • expel • corruption charges • William Jefferson sentenced

Jefferson Hit With Corruption Charges

La. Congressman faces 16-count federal indictment, 235 years

Jun 4, 07 2:06 PM CDT
(Newser) - Federal officials indicted Rep. William Jefferson today, charging him with bribery, racketeering, money-laundering, and other misdeeds that could carry a sentence of up to 235 years. The Louisiana Democrat, the target of a lengthy investigation into business deals in Africa, has maintained his innocence, even after investigators found $90,000... More »

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Congress • congressman • William Jefferson • Louisiana • bribery • bribe • corruption • corruption charges • William Jefferson sentenced

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