Rep. William Jefferson Letting LA Down

Representative William J. Jefferson, (D-LA) stands accused of accepting bribes from a Nigerian internet company. While he, like all of the Republicans who are indicted or under investigation is innocent until he pleads guilty or is found guilty by a court of law, the press and Republicans are eager to paint him guilty and part of the Republican culture of corruption in Washington. If Jefferson is guilty of accepting bribes, then he is certainly corrupt. However, he stands on his own. He is not part of the Republican machine of corruption. These people network it.

Jefferson's former aide, Brent Pfeffer, has already pleaded guilty to charges of aiding and abetting bribery of a public official and conspiracy on January 11, 2006. He implicated Bill Jefferson in his plea deal. Jefferson has been charged with requiring monetary favors for he and his family in exchange for assisting the internet company in Nigeria.

For more information on the charges see Wikipedia or this article at The Washington Post. Josh Marshall has also set up The Grande Ole Docket to help keep track of all indictments, pleas and court dates associated with them. You might also find more in this discussion going on at The Daily Muck.