Judiciary Report - Congressman William Jefferson Indicted

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Con-gressman William Jefferson Indicted

June 7. 2007

Freezerman Frozen - Assets Frozen

Harvard law graduate, congressman William Jefferson, was indicted on $500,000 in bribery charges. The FBI, who took forever bringing their case, which allowed Jefferson to regain his seat, is under fire for their untimely conduct.

Jefferson is a Harvard graduate which means a lot of things. The first thing it means is, if these allegations are indeed true, this was not a crime of necessity, as this man has a substantial law degree that would allow him admittance into many fields and high paying jobs of his choice.

He isn't some unsophisticated, uneducated man that waltzed into Congress from off the street, which makes this all the more regrettable.

There are certain things in life that can be classified as crimes of necessity. For example, when a man is hungry and steals food to eat. Though it is still wrong, to some it is understandable, as the man was in need of sustenance.

However, a man of Jefferson's accomplishments, who can easily earn a great salary, had all the more reason not to do this. While the evidence isn't overwhelming, it certainly doesn't look good for his innocence either.

Law School Grad Charged With Corruption

Louisiana Rep. charged with seeking millions in bribes from companies

Wednesday, June 06, 2007 2:05 AM - Rep. William Jefferson, a 1972 graduate of Harvard Law School who became infamous when the FBI found $90,000 in his home freezer in August 2005, was charged with 16 corruption-related felonies in Virginia on Monday.

Jefferson, a Louisiana Democrat, is accused of seeking millions of dollars in bribes from companies doing business in the United States and Africa. The 94-page indictment” which charges Jefferson with bribery, racketeering, money laundering, and obstruction of justice, among other things,” said that he used his position as a member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade to promote the companies ventures in exchange for money.

The charges in the indictment against Congressman Jefferson are extremely serious, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a statement released by her office. While Mr. Jefferson, just as any other citizen, must be considered innocent until proven guilty, if these charges are proven true, they constitute an egregious and unacceptable abuse of public trust and power."

Jefferson's office has declined requests for comment over the past two days. - Harvard Crimson