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Representative William Jefferson Watch: Congressional Black Caucus Says Jefferson Deserves a “Presumption of Innocence”

Congressman William Jefferson D-La., speaks at the swearing in ceremony for Mayor Ray Nagin at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans on Thursday June 1, 2006.

ASSociated Press: Black Caucus opposes Jefferson treatment

A drive by the Democratic leadership to strip embattled Rep. William Jefferson of his committee post triggered a backlash Thursday as the Congressional Black Caucus opposed the move and said the Louisiana lawmaker deserves a “presumption of innocence.”

The caucus chairman, Rep. Melvin Watt of North Carolina, told reporters that some black voters might ask why action was sought against “a black member of Congress” when there was neither precedent nor rule for it.

Jefferson has not been indicted and has denied all wrongdoing in connection with a federal bribery investigation that has netted two convictions. He has rebuffed repeated calls from Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and others to step aside until any involvement is clarified.

Watt spoke after a Democratic leadership group voted to strip Jefferson of his committee post, at least temporarily. The entire rank and file was then summoned to debate the issue but postponed a vote until next week.

A vote by the full House would be required to force Jefferson to step aside.

“I can guarantee” he will not voluntarily step aside, said Melanie Roussell, Jefferson’s spokeswoman.

This is such BULL.

This idiota was taped by the FBI and when his house was searched the Feds found $90,000 in the freezer.

Who is kidding whom?

The maneuvering came as part of a determined attempt by Pelosi, D-Calif., to ease Jefferson from his position. “I feel he should step aside,” the minority leader told reporters. She declined further comment, but spokeswoman Jennifer Crider said any charge that race was involved was “absolutely untrue. This is about upholding the highest ethical standard for every member of the Democratic caucus.”

Democrats intend to campaign against Republicans this fall by accusing them of presiding over a “culture of corruption.” Jefferson’s continued presence on the committee presumably would allow Republicans to blur the issue in the midterm elections.

Several officials said Watt had spoken up at the meeting of the rank and file to invoke a rule that provides for a five-day delay.

Emerging from the session, he distributed a statement that said the Congressional Black Caucus perhaps has a “unique appreciation of our nation’s constitutional guarantee of the presumption of innocence.”

The statement added the group “therefore opposes suggestions that some have made to force Rep. Jefferson to resign from Congress or to remove him involuntarily from his position on the Ways and Means Committee in the absence of precedents that have been historically applied and will be consistently applied in the future.”

Speaking for himself, Watt was more pointed.

He said the leadership was open to a charge that it was acting out of political expedience. “It’s about to blow up in their face,” he added.

Referring to black voters, who are among the most loyal Democrats in the electorate, he added, “You’ve got a whole base of people out there who believe that the Democratic Party takes them for granted already.”

If action is taken only against someone who “is a black member of Congress, then our community will legitimately ask what in the world are you doing?”

Oh, the RACE CARD.

Good Good Good

And to what “culture of corruption” might Representative William Jefferson belong?

The House should vote to expel this member. Why is the Speaker waiting?

Previous:

Representative William Jefferson Watch: Affadavit Ties Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar to William Jefferson Probe 

Representative William Jefferson Watch: “Trying to Protect Their Own”

Representative William Jefferson Watch: Jefferson Refuses to Quit Ways and Means Committee

Representative William Jefferson Watch: GOP Challenges FBI Raid of Jefferson’s Office

Representative William Jefferson Watch: “There are Two Sides to Every Story”

Representative William Jefferson Watch: FBI has BRIBES on Tape


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2 Comments

  • Donkey Cons

    Let me explain why this is so explosive. Jefferson is black, Al Mollohan is white. Both are under investigation, but neither has been indicted. Mollohan was forced to step down as the top Democrat on th House ethics committee, but retained his seat on the Appropriations committee.

    Now, while both men are “innocent until proven guilty,” what Jefferson is accused of is chump change compared to Mollohan.

  • PoliticalCritic

    Well said. Who is the CBC kidding? This guy is guilty as sin and we don’t need to wait for an indictment to clean up the party. An election is coming up in less than five months and this thug needs to step down. This is politics, not a courtroom.