Conason: Jefferson Must Go

May 26, 2006 | When FBI agents reach into a congressman's home freezer and pull out $90,000 in foil-wrapped bills, it is time for him to resign. When the Justice Department announces that the same congressman is on videotape taking a $100,000 bribe in a Virginia hotel garage, his resignation is overdue.

The case of Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., is that simple. In a matter of public integrity, his party affiliation doesn't matter, and neither does his race, color, creed, Harvard law degree or the sad fact that his constituents happen to live in ruined New Orleans. If he somehow doesn't understand his position, then his political friends -- and above all his colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus -- should be firmly explaining those realities to him.

(snip)

Yet when Pelosi finally asked him to step down from Ways and Means, he rejected her mild request. He released a bizarre letter claiming that his beleaguered constituents in New Orleans cannot afford to be deprived of him. Evidently he believes that he can continue in office, come what may. Sustaining him in this destructive delusion, unfortunately, is the Congressional Black Caucus -- whose dean, Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., sits with him on Ways and Means and counts him as a close friend.

The Hill, a weekly newspaper that covers Congress, reports that "furious" caucus members came close to publicly scolding Pelosi after she asked Jefferson to quit his committee post. Only an "emergency meeting" with the minority leader averted an embarrassing incident. According to the Hill, the dispute over Jefferson "has brought into glaring public light long-standing resentments felt by black lawmakers toward the Democratic leadership in the House."



more…
http://salon.com/opinion/conason/2006/05/26/jefferson/

The Democratic leadership needs to demand that he resign from Congress. Then they can very easily take the high ground and go after all the many corrupt Republicans like the ones on the payroll of Abramoff.

Pelosi tried to just get him to step down from his committee (what was it, Ways and Means?) and he blew her off.

Without an indictment, I don't see how you can ask a duly elected representative to resign. We haven't seen the tape, don't know the circumstances - may I remind you that John Murtha was caught up in Abscam?

It certainly looks as if Jefferson is guilty, but he is entitled to due process. My concern is that we don't play partisan politics here. If he is guilty(and he probably is) get him out, quickly if possible. Then let's go after all those congresspersons bought and paid for by Abramoff and any other K-streeters that may be involved. I think they may get a Democrat or two, but there are many corrupt Republicans who will be in major trouble if this is done with an eye to rooting out the corruption.

He was officially accused; Jefferson's being smeared.

In politics, it's easily to make everything sleazy - ask anyone in DC about their mayor and tapes.

I disagree strongly with Conason, but it won't be the first time.

After all the furor over that FBI raid, here's Conason saying that the FBI ***HAD*** subpoenaed Jefferson's records and Jefferson somehow had been resisting and thwarting these lawful subpoenas.

I sure as hell hadn't heard that! Geez! That's real news and highly relevant information!

would find him to be a repuke on all the important issues. Unfortunatly the Congressional Black Caucus is being racist on this one. The issue isn't black, white, democrat, republican but what is right. If he or CBC doesn't get responcible, Pelosy will have no other choice but to due her job. I thought Rangle was better then this.

William Jefferson is already being used by some of the right-wing propaganda organs as a fig leaf and a distraction from the massive Republican/"conservative" culture of corruption.

Conasan is saying Dems must be pure enough to throw Jefferson under the bus. But, the Dem Black Caucus is in most ways more friendly to the Progressive Wing of the Dem Party. We already have Capitol Police involved with "detaining" Cynthia McKinney (which I thought was unfair to her...but some DU'ers disagreed) and we know they dragged up old stuff about John Conyers forcing staff members to babysit for his kids (while that shrew Bush Bot Texas Female House member did worse and never had to account for it) ...so I don't fault Rangel for standing with Jefferson. When Jefferson is indicted is the time for him to be booted. If they have so much on Jefferson...where IS that indictment, anyway.

I love Joe Conason...never ever disagreed with anything he said...but this just doesn't seem to be something I can go along with him on. :shrug: It's over a year ago the money was found in the freezer...wasn't that enough to get an indictment way back then?

Isn't that our money, it was a sting up after all?