William Jefferson is a ninth-term member of Congress, representing the 2nd district of Louisiana. Rep. Jefferson’s ethics issues stem from his business dealings and from the misuse of federal resources.
Federal Investigation into Business Dealings
Rep. Jefferson has been the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation by the federal government since approximately March 2005. In August 2005, federal agents searched his home in New Orleans and his home and car in Washington, D.C., as well as the home and office of his campaign accountant in New Orleans after Rep. Jefferson was videotaped accepting 0,000 in 0 bills from Lori Mody, a Northern Virginia investor and former technology executive who was wearing an FBI wire. During the raid on Rep. Jefferson’s home, FBI agents found ,000 in cash in ,000 increments wrapped in foil in the Congressman’s freezer.
The 83-page search warrant affidavit released on May 21, 2006, described Rep. Jefferson as a man who solicited hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, discussed payoffs with African officials, had a history of involvement in numerous bribery schemes and used his family to hide his interest in high-tech business ventures he promoted in Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria.
In January 2006, one of Rep. Jefferson’s former aides, Brett M. Pfeffer, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official and aiding and abetting the bribery of a public official and in May 2006, Vernon L. Jackson, the CEO of iGate, pleaded guilty to paying more than 0,000 in bribes to the family of Rep. Jefferson. Rep. Jefferson is very likely to find himself soon charged with bribery, honest services fraud and conspiracy. He has also violated numerous House rules.
Use of the National Guard to Visit Home and Retrieve Property
Five days after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, on September 2, 2005, Rep. Jefferson allegedly used National Guard troops to check in on his home and collect a few belongings – a laptop computer, three suitcases and a large box. By using the National Guard to visit his home and retrieve property -- at a time when the citizens of New Orleans had no such similar opportunities -- Rep. Jefferson appears to have violated House rules.
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