Democratic Congressman William Jefferson to be indicted?

Jefferson might claim deals private

'Official acts' issue could play key role in case
Saturday, January 21, 2006
By Bruce Alpert
Washington bureau

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. William Jefferson's public response to the federal government's investigation of his business dealings suggests his legal defense could be that his actions were distinct and separate from his congressional responsibilities and therefore not subject to federal bribery statutes, legal experts say.

The New Orleans Democrat last week said he had never requested or accepted anything to "perform a service for which I have been elected." He said he is disappointed and perplexed by a former aide's guilty plea last week and the former aide's accusations that Jefferson had demanded jobs for family members and a business stake in exchange for his assistance with lucrative telecommunications contracts in Nigeria and Ghana.

Jefferson has not been charged.

Eric Bloom, a Washington lawyer who won a unanimous Supreme Court ruling in 1999 that cleared Sun-Diamond Growers of giving illegal gifts to Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy during the 1990s, said Jefferson's comments indicate he and his attorneys are well aware of the high court ruling.

Justice Antonin Scalia, writing for the court, said federal prosecutors had failed to show that the gifts, including tickets to sporting events and luggage, were linked to an "official act," and therefore the company could not be convicted of paying an illegal gratuity.

Jefferson's attorney Ronald Machen declined to comment.

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http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/washington/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1137826690222050.xml

Ex-Aide Pleads Guilty to Bribing Congressman

By Allan Lengel
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, January 12, 2006; Page A05

A former aide to Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.) pleaded guilty yesterday to bribing the congressman to promote high-tech business ventures in Africa.

Brett M. Pfeffer, 37, of Herndon, a former president of a McLean investment firm, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Alexandria to conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official and aiding and abetting the bribery of a public official in 2004 and 2005.

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Pfeffer recounted in court how his former Capitol Hill boss, in exchange for using his congressional influence in Africa, demanded a 5 to 7 percent stake in one of two new companies Pfeffer's firm was investing in. The companies were to provide high-speed Internet and cable TV service in Ghana and Nigeria.

Pfeffer said the congressman also demanded that two relatives be put on the businesses' payrolls.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/11/AR2006011102282.html