INDICTED - While U.S. Representative William Jefferson, left, faces more than 200 years in prison under a 16-count federal indictment, he gave thousands to Democrat committees and candidates including Rep. Heath Shuler, right.While Democrats were swept into power in Congress by making corruption a political issue, it is one of their own, U.S. Representative William Jefferson, D-LA, who could set a record for the most corrupt acts carried out by a member of Congress.
Jefferson’s 16-count, 94 page indictment, for which he could serve more than 200 years in prison if convicted, eclipses the legal troubles of former Republican Congressmen Randy “Duke” Cunningham, R-CA, Bob Ney, R-OH, and former Democrat Representative James Traficant, D-OH.
Cunningham pleaded guilty to four counts and was sentenced to eight years in prison. Ney pleaded guilty to two, and received a 30 month sentence. If convicted, Jefferson would face sentencing on as many counts as Cunningham, Ney and Traficant combined.
Traficant, a flamboyant Democrat Congressman, was found guilty in 2002 on 10 counts of racketeering, bribery and fraud. While both Cunningham and Ney resigned their seats in Congress, Traficant refused to leave, and was expelled. Despite reports that Jefferson is seen on videotape accepting $100,000 in cash from an informant - $90,000 of which was later found in Jefferson’s freezer – he has indicated he will not resign from Congress.
Earlier this year, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi attempted to place Jefferson on the sensitive Homeland Security Committee.
Now that Jefferson has been indicted, House Democrats, who pledged “to lead the most honest, most open, and most ethical Congress in history,” will need to decide what to do about the thousands of dollars in campaign contributions Jefferson has made to his colleagues and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).
Following U.S. Representative Tom DeLay’s indictment at the hands of a local district attorney with whom he frequently battled, the DCCC called on GOP candidates to return contributions they received from the then-House Majority Leader.
Jefferson donated nearly $140,000 to the Democrats’ campaign committee. Jefferson also gave thousands to Democrat House members and candidates, including freshmen Nick Lampson, D-TX, Heath Shuler, D-NC, and Ciro Rodriguez, D-TX.
Lampson and Shuler received contributions from Jefferson’s re-election committee, while Rodriguez received $1,000 from Jefferson’s political action committee, the Future PAC.
Only Lampson is reported to have returned Jefferson’s contribution.
Other Democrats who received financial support from Jefferson are: Sanford Bishop, $1000; Corrine Brown, $2000; Lois Capps, $500; Julia Carson, $1000; Donna Christensen, $1000; Emanuel Cleaver, $2000; Chet Edwards, $1000; Al Green, $2000; Alcee Hastings, $1000; Barbara Lee, $1000; John Lewis, $500; Carolyn McCarthy, $1000; Charlie Melancon, $2000; Gwendolynne Moore, $1000; Brad Sherman, $1000; and Mel Watt, $1000.
Jefferson also contributed a total of $5,680 to the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) PAC.
Jefferson’s Future PAC gave $1,000 each to Democrat Representatives Corrine Brown, Julia Carson, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Carloyn McCarthy, Kendrick Meek, Mike Ross, and Linda Sanchez.
Publisher Mike Giuliani contributed to this report.
As a Congressman, Shuler is still a bad QB
Looks like Heath Shuler's political career could be shorter than his football career. This marks the second job that he has had where he is being paid thousands of dollars under very questionable circumstances...If there is one thing football fans know, it is that Heath Shuler knows how to pocket cash without producing results.