CNN: Jefferson gets seat on Homeland Security Committee

Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Jefferson gets seat on Homeland Security Committee

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The House Democratic Caucus voted on Tuesday night to give Rep. William Jefferson, D-Louisiana, a seat on the House Homeland Security Committee. This comes after the caucus stripped Jefferson of his seat on the powerful Ways and Means committee last June.

Jefferson is entangled in a federal bribery investigation related to his dealings with a telecommunications company. Federal investigators found $90,000 in cash in his freezer in 2005 after Jefferson allegedly accepted a $100,000 bribe from an FBI informant. Despite the investigation, Jefferson was re-elected to a ninth term to his New Orleans' seat in a run-off election in December.

Jefferson said after the meeting the caucus vote was "not contentious" and added there was "no dissent."

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2007/02/jefferson-gets-seat-on-homeland.html

Don't see a reason why this man can't serve on this committee.

"because he's very likely a fucking criminal, and probably will lose his seat after he's found guilty?"

If that one doesn't do it for ya, then how about "because we don't need hundreds of thousands of dollars of homeland security money in this jackass's freezer?"

I wouldn't support republican criminals in office, and I won't support a Democratic criminal in office. He should be hidden away like the disgrace he is, not given cushy committee assignments.

this is hypocritical. The Dems strike out yet again...

He hasn't been charged with anything hell he hasn't even been indicted nor has there been a grand jury to hear the evidence yet.

I agree with you though he looks guilty as hell and they shouldn't have done this but they probably do have to put him somewhere.

Let's not forget that he may have more "things" hidden away other than money ;-)


One last thing-again I DO AGREE WITH YOU---- All that we have heard is what Gonzo's DoJ has said. No one has seen the supposed videotape of him taking the money or anything else for that matter. Let's not forget that too.

What exactly did we vote for? Wasn't ridding Congress of scandal and felons one of the main campaign talking point? Maybe that is all it was. Just a talking point. Extremely hypocritical, and extremely disappointing. And why even give the other side something to attack?


www.BlackEyedSundays.com

Cold Hard Cash?

Jefferson should have been stripped of his position in its entirety based upon the existing evidence and the money in his freezer. I don't buy partisan tolerance ....as in well if he's a Democrat we should tolerate it. He should have been put on a low profile committe until he is charged or proven guilty. As I recollect Delay was charged long before he had to face reality.

Politics is based upon perception not a court of law. If the people believe that we tolerate crooked Congressmen, then we will pay at the next election. Congressmen that put money in a freezer and hold questionnable meetings should be suspect. I don't believe charged Congressmen should go to jail, but they should be neutered until it's resolved, just as are most other public officials.

Jefferson's appointment is a sad realization that CRONYISM is alive and well within our Democratic Leadership in Congress. :cry:

This will return to bite us (The Democratic Party) in the a** when Jefferson is indicted. Bank on it! ;)

I dislike/hate dirty crony politics from any political party. I'd prefer to see political scumbags that lie and steal put out to pasture regardless of their party affiliation. Then they should be charged and if found guilty punished accordingly and go to jail at hard labor.

The excuse for Jefferson that he might help Katrina victims is absolutely nonsense.

I agree 100% that when the door of corruption is opened and tolerated that it will taint the entire party. For most of America this is a not a shades of gray issue that party leaders tend to support, but a binary issue that is either right or wrong.

:spank: for the bank on it part.

come on, be serious, i remember reading a survey years ago (like the 80s? years ago?) that the freezer was the most common place to hide money in louisiana

altho to be fair, they did suggest you not do it, as it was the first place home invaders look -- apparently many people who rob homes are dumb asses who want to microwave a damn pizza while they're at it

i have not had $$$ in my freezer since the 70s but i don't doubt that many people keep $$$ in their freezer to this day

is it really that unusual? it's a cheap alternative to the fire resistant safe

He asked her about why Jefferson was put on the Homeland Security Committee. Forgive my swiss-cheese memory right now (daughter getting married on Saturday so lots going on), but she did say he was taken OFF the Ways and Means Committee because of the money found in the freezer, and I believe she mentioned something about how they didn't want him on that committee because of that. I'm going to see if I can find either the transcript or the clip of the interview.

Edited to add: I checked on Larry King's site, and while he had a clip of his interview with Pelosi, it was the part about being the first woman Speaker of the House, not the part about Jefferson. I also looked on You Tube, and there are no clips there of this interview. Sorry.....

He is still an innocent man in my book. Did he attack Karen Carter unfairly and did I support her? Absolutely!! But, there's no reason why he shouldn't get a seat. If Blunt and Boehner were so concerned about getting "unethical" people off committees, why did they not once do it to their own, even when they were under indictment. Hypocrites.

I'm sorry but I don't relate the actions of the GOP in this regard as to what we should be doing as righteous changers and protectors of honest government. The GOP did everything they could to retain in place their suspected, charged, or not yet proven guilty corrupt players.

It infuriates me to think that we are doing the same.

charges or indictments. WhatEVER he was up to, how come the GOP controlled administration, congress and DOJ never came up with anything to charge this Democrat with? Maybe he -is- dirty but what and where is the evidence?

over the evidence gathered from his office, that may have been what slowed the investigation down, just like Judy "Aspens are turning" Miller slowed Fitz down.

it's just that I'm surprised the Gonzalez Gang let it slow them down...

and I'm actually against how the FBI went about it. On the other hand, I recognize that's slowed down the investigation.

putting money in freezers was an old-time cheap alternative to the fire proof safe in louisiana

they need to do better than, "it's wrong to have cash, no one should ever have any, and if they do they're evil and bad"

I say we have a revolution and toss these bastards on both sides out.