My view of the world

Here we have the most honorable representative from Louisiana, who has been indicted on bribery, racketeering and money-laundering charges.

This picture is of Rep. Jefferson and his attorney, from the AP

His absolutely brilliant defense is based on how smart he and his family are.
This from the Washington Post:
Outside the courthouse, Jefferson, wearing a dark suit, blue dress shirt and red tie, spoke to reporters in a low but urgent voice about his wife, five daughters and three grandchildren, emphasizing their Ivy League degrees, their patriotism and their commitment to both church and public service.
He contrasted the family’s accomplishments with allegations in the indictment that Jefferson advanced his schemes by placing relatives on boards of companies to solicit bribes and kickbacks.
“Incredibly this is the same family that the U.S. attorney and the FBI and I guess some in Justice want you to believe is a family of bribers, racketeers and conspirators,” said Jefferson, who like three of his daughters is a graduate of Harvard Law School.

“A family of bribers, racketeers and conspirators,” No, Mr. Jefferson, I could be mistaken, but, I don’t think the indictment mentioned anyone but you,

Jefferson is alleged to have offered and accepted numerous bribes to support business ventures in the United States and West Africa. He had been under investigation since March 2005. The probe made headlines across the country when authorities searching his home on Aug. 3, 2005, found $90,000 in cash stuffed in his freezer.
Authorities alleged that Jefferson had solicited the cash from Lori Mody, a wealthy Northern Virginia business associate, to bribe the Nigerian vice president. Mody was working as an FBI informant and wore a recording device when she passed on the cash that was actually from the FBI.
“Suffice it to say that the alleged facts in the indictment were contrived merely as part of a sting and all of the allegations are misleading and all the allegations are untrue. . . . This case involves purely private business activities and not official acts by me,” Jefferson said. “Did I bribe a foreign official? Absolutely not. The $90,000 was the FBI’s money. The FBI gave it to me as part of their plan that I would give it to the Nigerian vice president. But I did not do that.”

It would appear that Rep. Jefferson thinks it’s perfectly acceptable to steal, as long as the money was intended for some other illegal activity.
It also looks as though, in Mr. Jefferson’s world, you are only guilty if you are not well enough educated, too poor, or not connected enough, to get into Harvard Law School.

He’s been removed from Ways and Means, and he gave up his seat on the House Small Business Committee.
On the other hand, in spite of the investigation, he was re-elected by a large margin.

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