House freshmen divided on Jefferson

TOUGH TALK, LITTLE ACTION - Freshmen members of the 110th Congress held a May 16 news conference, pressing for tougher ethics enforcement. The indictment of Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson has divided the class on whether Jefferson should resign. Tim Mahoney, at podium, and most of his class have been silent on whether Jefferson should step down.

Two members of that class, who made combating corruption a focal point of their 2006 campaigns, are standing by Jefferson, citing process as the reason he should remain in office.

“Because I believe so strongly in the cornerstone of our American judicial system — that every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty — I do not believe that we have legal standing to force Mr. Jefferson to resign at this moment,” U.S. Representative Zack Space, D-OH, told the Columbus Dispatch in a Thursday report.

But during his 2006 campaign, Space was less reserved on Jefferson, even though the Louisiana Democrat had yet to be indicted.

“Bill Jefferson and (former Representative) Bob Ney are the poster children for Washington's culture of corruption that is costing American families,” Space said while campaigning. “I urge both to resign their seats in Congress so we can begin a new day and a new way of doing things.”

U.S. Representative Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, provided a similar defense, telling the Politico “the bottom line is that we have due process of law in this country.”

But Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-MD, seemingly contradicted the position of the two freshmen, telling the Associated Press “members are held to a higher standard than the public.”

Hoyer’s remarks echoed those of Jefferson’s hometown newspaper, the New Orleans Times Picayune. “The congressman is entitled to his day in court. But the Louisianians who live in his district are entitled to something as well: a representative who can devote full time and energy to their many pressing concerns,” the paper wrote in a June 5 editorial. “Rep. Jefferson is not that person, and for that reason, he should step down.”

Other members of the freshmen class agreed, calling for Jefferson to leave office.

“(Jefferson’s) continued presence in Congress is a detriment to the integrity of the House and fractures the sacred trust Americans place in this institution,” said U.S. Representative Patrick Murphy, D-PA.

“While Mr. Jefferson is entitled to the legal presumption of innocence to which all citizens are entitled,” said Wisconsin’s Steve Kagen, “all members of Congress must be held to a higher standard. Congressman Jefferson should consider resigning for the good of the Congress and for the good of the nation.”

“I would encourage Mr. Jefferson to take this under advisement and encourage him to step down,” said Rep. Christopher Carney, with Colorado’s Ed Perlmutter in agreement, stating “My position is similar to the gentleman from Pennsylvania. I would suggest that (Jefferson) do justice to himself, prepare his defense, and that his district have someone else.”

And Texas’ Nick Lampson said he “stated in the past that if Congressman Jefferson is indicted, that he should resign for the good of the Congress as an institution, and more importantly for the good of the American people. I stand by that call today.” Nancy Boyda of Kansas has also for Jefferson’s resignation.

Jefferson contributed financially to three members of the freshmen class, Lampson, Heath Shuler, D-NC, and Ciro Rodriguez, D-TX. Only Lampson reported returning Jefferson’s contribution.

Jefferson has also donated nearly $130,000 to the Democratic Congressional Committee (DCCC), which provided financial support to the Democrat freshmen class during their 2006 campaigns.