It appears that most of the Democrats in Congress have figured out how to handle corruption in their ranks -- at least when the case is as clear cut as a freezer full of foil-wrapped cash. From The HIll:
The chances that Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) will keep his seat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee grew slimmer yesterday as House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) issued a stinging assessment of the embattled Louisianan's legal situation. ..
..."He sits on a tax-writing committee, and he had $90,000 found in his freezer. I think he's got a tax problem if nothing else," Hoyer said, responding to reporters' questions about whether Democrats would seek to oust Jefferson forcibly from the panel even though he has yet to be charged with a crime..."I personally believe that Mr. Jefferson should step down from the Ways and Means Committee, and if he doesn't step down our caucus should take action."
The piece goes on to provide a look at the back and forth between Pelosi supporters and those in the party who will be blaming her if the Democrats are not successful in November.
Update: Congressman Jefferson's "African art" is located.
Permalink | Send To A Friend | Linking Blogs | Digg this!
Filed under:
Congress, Democrats
Comments (4)
Finally, the Dems realize t... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Robin | June 7, 2006 11:26 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Finally, the Dems realize they need to push this guy out NOW. I have been astonished that after their "culture of corruption" garbage they didn't immediate demand publicly and vocally (not to mention loudly) his resignation from committee assignments and perhaps his seat as well.
They could have gotten right out front with this by claiming to "police their own" while that idiot Hastert raved on about the constitutionality of the office search. But no, both sides blew the spin machine on this one. Good for us I guess.
1. Posted by Robin | June 7, 2006 11:26 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 7, 2006 11:26
2. Posted by Adjoran | June 7, 2006 10:32 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
They won't do DIDDLY about Jefferson until he is indicted - and, maybe not even then.
Remember, the rule that indicted Members must step down from leadership posts is a GOP rule. The Democrats have never required this, and they have had the lion's share of indicted Representatives in the last half-century.
If Griffin Bell hadn't shut down the FBI sting known as "Abscam" in the '70s, who knows how many House and Senate Democrats might have been videotaped taking cash bribes from what they thought was an Arab sheik - but who was really a Jewish NJ con man trying to work his way out of a fraud bust.
But the Black Caucus won't let anything happen to Jefferson until he is convicted and all appeals exhausted - IOW, when he goes to prison - because they would expect the same courtesy if their own bribes ever were exposed.
2. Posted by Adjoran | June 7, 2006 10:32 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 7, 2006 22:32
3. Posted by Scrapiron | June 8, 2006 12:43 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
When the CBC dives headlong into protecting a black criminal (simply because he's black) that has been caught red handed they prove they are the most racist organization in America. Why is racism allowed to openly exist and flourish in the United States Congress. Will the members of the CBC accept a Congressional White Caucus(CWC)? Dumb question.
3. Posted by Scrapiron | June 8, 2006 12:43 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 8, 2006 00:43
4. Posted by Adjoran | June 9, 2006 2:14 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Well there they go:
CBC backs Jefferson
4. Posted by Adjoran | June 9, 2006 2:14 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 9, 2006 02:14