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Former congressman convicted on bribery, money laundering charges

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Former Congressman William Jefferson (D-LA) was found guilty on Wednesday of 11 counts of public corruption. Jefferson was convicted of using his position on the US House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee to promote the interests of companies involved in development projects in Africa, seeking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes for himself and African government officials. While Jefferson faces a maximum of 150 years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines for bribery, racketeering and money laundering, he was acquitted on five other counts of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and obstruction of justice. The US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Dana Boente, said that the conviction should be a clear signal that no public official – and certainly not a US Congressman – can put their office up for sale and betray that office.Judge T S Ellis III allowed Jefferson to remain free on bond until his sentencing, scheduled for October 30, over the objections of prosecutors who cited his ties to Africa in labeling him a flight risk. The jury will decide Thursday whether Jefferson is required to forfeit $456,000 and stock allegedly acquired through corruption. In November, the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed Jefferson's appeal seeking to have bribery charges against him dropped. He had argued the charges were based on evidence protected by the US Constitution's Speech or Debate Clause, which makes certain information relating to legislative action privileged. In March, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said it planned to pursue the case against Jefferson despite an appeals court ruling that other evidence confiscated from his office during an FBI raid was protected by the Speech and Debate Clause. Jefferson pleaded not guilty to the charges against him in June. In January 2007, former Jefferson aide Brett Pfeffer pleaded guilty to bribery charges for his role in the scheme.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on August 06, 2009 (boomark / email).