William Jefferson
A 2006 campaign ad:
Today:
Former Democratic Congressman William Jefferson was found guilty of 11 of 16 corruption charges today by a federal jury.
The jury of eight women and four men returned a guilty verdict following five days of deliberation
In the 16-count indictment, Jefferson was charged with soliciting bribes and other crimes for a series of schemes in which he helped American businesses broker deals in West African in exchange for payments or financial considerations to companies controlled by members of his family, including his brother Mose, his wife, Andrea, their five daughters and a son-in-law.
Jefferson, 62, who represented the New Orleans-based 2nd Congressional District for nine terms, will now face sentencing by Judge T.S. Ellis III, who earlier meted out stiff sentences for lesser figures in the case. According to the U.S. attorney's office, Jefferson faced 235 years in prison if convicted on all counts, and will still face substantial prison time.
From the 'is anyone really that stupid' files:
California must shrink the population of its teeming prisons by nearly 43,000 inmates over the next two years to meet constitutional standards, a panel of three federal judges ruled Tuesday, ordering the state to come up with a reduction plan by mid-September.
. . . .
The 185-page opinion follows a trial last year and nearly 14 years of deliberations over lawsuits brought by inmates alleging cruel and unusual punishment, which moved the state case into federal jurisdiction. The opinion accuses the state of fostering “criminogenic” conditions that lead prisoners and parolees to commit more crimes, feeding a cycle of recidivism.
Build a camp next to Stephen Reinhardt’s house and release them there. Maybe Ramona can help them out.
P.S. In the article, the L.A. Times continues its longstanding tradition of failing to tell you who appointed the the judges who rendered this decision.
You’ll be shocked to learn they were all appointed by Democrats.
How about that vetting from the savviest administration EVER:
Notorious Israel-hating Medal of Freedom recipient ‘not fully vetted’ by White HouseSee Israel Matzav for more. Much more (this too, of course). In other words, it turns out that apparently the reason why Mary Robinson - the woman responsible for the infamous Durban Let’s-Go-After-The-Jews Conference that we pulled out of, in sheer elemental revulsion - was signed off on for a Medal of Freedom was because nobody thought to do a thorough job at researching her history. Presumably they were all busy doing… whatever it is that the White House staff does when they get to work every morning.A source has now indicated that she was not fully vetted, but that the White House feels that backing down at this point would make things worse.
Ray LaHood, Rahm Emanuel
Did White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel coordinate a political multi-agency response to conservative criticisms of the stimulus? The Washington Examiner’s David Freddoso makes the case:
Specifically, the question is whether [Emanuel] put four cabinet secretaries up to writing bullying letters to Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, R. The letters asked whether Arizona wanted its stimulus funds cut off, shortly after Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., suggested repealing the stimulus package.
[House Government Reform Committww Ranking Member Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA)] cannot issue a subpoena without support from Democrats, and so Emanuel is not yet legally required to respond to his inquiries. However, it is worth noting that if this Politico story on Emanuel’s involvement — which Issa references — is true, then Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood lied to Congress two weeks ago, during testimony before the House Budget Committee, about the letter he sent.
LaHood had to be asked seven times in a July 24 budget hearing whether anyone in the White House had put him up to writing his letter to Brewer. After several evasions by LaHood, Rep. Scott Garrett, R-N.J., finally complained to the chairman: “Mr. Chairman, would the witness please answer the question?”
LaHood finally answered “no.”
Eric Holder
It's not just the "nation of cowards" speech or other racial stunts, and not just the outrageous dismissal of the voter intimidation case against dangerous New Black Panthers. It's also the stonewalling of legitimate congressional inquiry, and it's also the open politicization of the staffing and the atmosphere at Justice. Rubin writes:
Then there is Les Jin, who was chief of staff to the controversial former chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Mary Frances Berry, who engaged in such regular political stunts as attempting to prevent the seating of George W. Bush's lawful nominee to the commission. Jin is now in a senior counselor spot at Justice.And it really does get worse. Read it. And be very afraid.
While the Bush administration was investigated for seeking out conservative lawyers and staff, the Obama administration has been given a pass for going to the other extreme and stocking Justice with ultra-left leaning partisans. Overt signs of political activity and support now are on full display throughout the department.
This would be bad enough from the 'most ethical Congress in history', but the list goes on and on...
- John Conyers' wife pleads guilty to corruption, Conyers drops ACORN investigation
- Michigan Sen. Stabenow tied to multiple scandals
- Dems put their reps up for sale (literally)
- Ed Perlmutter inserts legislative provision to enrich the bank his family uses
- Jack Murtha tied to Florida corruption investigation
- Dems appoint big donors to financial investigation committee
- Obama's eco-czar, Carol Browner, warns her people 'not to put anything in writing, ever' so they can't be held accountable
- Tim Waltz lied about military service
- Dems block investigation into sweetheart Countrywide mortgages for Dodd, Conrad, and others
Whose ethics are we talking about here?
There's my two cents.
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