John Nichols (The Nation): William Jefferson, D-Wall Street

[Jack Rabbit]

From The Nation
Dated Tuesday May 23

William Jefferson, D-Wall Street
By John Nichols

Nancy Pelosi has shown little interest in holding George Bush to account, as evidenced by House Minority Leader's determination to distance herself from discussions of censuring – let alone impeaching – the president for the high crimes and misdemeanors that have characterized his tenure.

So it not all that surprising that Pelosi, despite her promise to "clean up" Congressional corruption, has been slow to demand genuine accountability from a member of the House Democratic Caucus. The minority leader has backed an ethics committee inquiry into charges against Congressman William Jefferson, D-Louisiana, the "star" of a Federal Bureau of Investigation tape in which what sounds like a bribe of $100,000 is accepted. But she so far has refrained from suggesting the obvious: that it is time for the severely scandal-plagued Jefferson to resign.

Let's be clear, if Tom DeLay needed to go, so does Bill Jefferson.

What makes Pelosi's refusal to cut Jefferson loose so disappointing is the fact that Democrats owes the congressan from New Orleans no loyalty. Indeed, if ever there was a member of Congress who merited abandonment by his party, official censure and a hasty exit from the legislative branch, it is William Jefferson.

Read more.

[enid602]

1. Jefferson

Wait and see what they find on Jefferson. Accounts of bribes are supposedly two years old! Recent visit to his congressional offies by FBI seen by many as a gross misuse of executive power. One can certainly say that the same tact was not employed against other (Republican) congressmen who've also been accused of wrongdoing.