Jefferson (finally) indicted

Bikewer

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Bikewer
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After his congressional offices were raided and FBI investigators recovered 93,000-ish dollars in marked bills from his home freezer almost 2 years ago, indictments on a variety of charges have been handed down:

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/LegalCenter/wireStory?id=3242622

Despite the pending charges, Jefferson was re-elected....

This case set off a large (and still ongoing) dispute between Legislative and Justice, the legislators maintaining that they were constitutionally exempt from such raids and seizures at their offices.
Many folks like myself wondered...."What if those offices are being used for criminal activities?"
At any rate, evidently enough evidence was obtained outside the office seizures to warrant the indictment.

No doubt the Republicans will be glad to see a Dem in the hot spot after the variety of scandals of the last few years.....
 
Bikewer said:
Jefferson (finally) indicted
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Thomas? Regardless, no matter branch their from, politicians shouldn't be above the law. They ought to be subject to the same search and seizure rules that govern anyone else.
 
MelBrooksfan said:
Thomas? Regardless, no matter branch their from, politicians shouldn't be above the law. They ought to be subject to the same search and seizure rules that govern anyone else.
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True enough. I don't disagree at all.

However, given the experience of the past fifteen years, and the recent scandal involving the DOJ being filled with appointed political hacks, I am a bit uncomfortable at the situation. I can easily see a situation where the DOJ abuses its power in order to attack congressional opposition.

Of course, I don't exactly have a solution. Maybe a separate agency, dedicated to investigating congressional wrongdoing and answerable to SCOTUS? Just a thought.
 
Cleon said:
True enough. I don't disagree at all.

However, given the experience of the past fifteen years, and the recent involving the DOJ being filled with appointed political hacks, I am a bit uncomfortable at the situation. I can easily see a situation where the DOJ abuses its power in order to attack congressional opposition.

Of course, I don't exactly have a solution. Maybe a separate agency, dedicated to investigating congressional wrongdoing and answerable to SCOTUS? Just a thought.
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The DOJ has to apply to a court for a warrant -- and did so in this case.

If we cannot trust the DOJ and cannot trust the court system, then why should we trust a new agency (assuming for the moment it would pass constitutional muster)?
 
NoZed Avenger said:
If we cannot trust the DOJ and cannot trust the court system, then why should we trust a new agency (assuming for the moment it would pass constitutional muster)?
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Because the DHS is such a sparkling success? :p

Good point, Nozed, worth a beer. Guinness or Shiner Blonde?
DR
 
Darth Rotor said:
Because the DHS is such a sparkling success? :p

Good point, Nozed, worth a beer. Guinness or Shiner Blonde?
DR
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Not fair - I just got back from the gym and just saw this thread. I was thinking the same thing. I want a beer, too!

Sorry, Cleon, I don't see where the Constitution says SCOTUS has investigatory powers, though I guess if you can find the right to abortion in there, you can find just about anything... :xtongue

Here's an idea: Empower the executive branch to investigate the judicial. Judicial can investigate legislative. Legislative can investigate executive.

They call it a circle-jerk.

Meanwhile, what happened to the $94,000 in Jefferson's freezer?
 
I wish you said the guy's first name in the thread title, Bikewer, because I was sitting here staring at it thinking "Thomas Jefferson?? How are they going to indite him, he's been dead for 181 years!!"

:)

Cheers,
TGHO
 
Thank goodness! Even after 190+ years, no president gets away with it! The wheels of justice may grind fine in the USA, but they do grind slow...





What...?



Not THAT Jefferson?



Oh.

:o
 
I keep thinking of another president - William Jefferson Clinton.
 
Here's the entire story about the indictment from the AP. Can anyone spot something unusual missing? Answer at the end:
[SIZE=+2]Rep. Jefferson Indicted in Bribery Probe[/SIZE]
 [SIZE=-1]By LARA JAKES JORDAN and MATTHEW BARAKAT
The Associated Press
Tuesday, June 5, 2007; 2:53 AM
[/SIZE]
WASHINGTON -- Louisiana congressman William Jefferson received more than $500,000 in bribes and sought millions more in nearly a dozen separate schemes to enrich himself by using his office to broker business deals in Africa, according to a federal indictment Monday.
The charges came almost two years after investigators raided Jefferson's home in Washington and found $90,000 in cash stuffed in his freezer.
The indictment lists 16 counts, including racketeering, soliciting bribes, wire fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice and conspiracy. He faces a possible maximum sentence of 235 years.
He is the first U.S. official to face charges under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits corporate bribery overseas.

...snip...
Edited by Darat: 
Breach of Rule 4 removed.
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Oops. Sorry. But you need to read the whole story, so please click on the link.
There are three congressmen named in the story. Jefferson is the only one whose party is not identified. Does anyone doubt that if he'd been a Republican, the lead would have read something like, "In yet another embarrassing scandal for the Republican party, Congressman William Jefferson (R-LA)..."?

Of course, there are probably readers who would think Jefferson's party is identified. It says he's a Republican, right up there in the headline, doesn't it?

 
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The Great Hairy One said:
I wish you said the guy's first name in the thread title, Bikewer, because I was sitting here staring at it thinking "Thomas Jefferson?? How are they going to indite him, he's been dead for 181 years!!"

:)

Cheers,
TGHO
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Well the Crown Prosecution Service doesn’t prosecute may treason cases, so it’s not surprissng that it took them so long.
 
Insert seventh obligatory Thomas Jefferson reference here.
 
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