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2006-05-25 Home Front: Politix

Jefferson Won't Resign From House Panel Amid Bribery Scandal

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Posted by mcsegeek1 2006-05-25 10:01|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Jeff, you 'unfairly punished the people of the 2nd District' the minute you took office, scumbag.

Posted by mcsegeek1 2006-05-25 10:43|| 2006-05-25 10:43|| Front Page Top

#2 "Further, such a request would be discriminatory..."

Don't tell me he's already playing a subtle race card. I don't see the Congressional Black Caucus rushing to his defense on this one.

Posted by DepotGuy 2006-05-25 10:43|| 2006-05-25 10:43|| Front Page Top

#3 The members of Congress claim this violates the debate clause of the Constitution which states that members of Congress can't be arrested while Congress is in session and debating issues. This is stretching waaaaaay to thin. Jefferson wasn't arrested. What it boils down to is the members of Congress have decided they are above the other two branches and no one can investigate them but Congress themselves. So much for checks and balances. There has always been a certain ammount of elitism in Congress but this goes beyond the pale.

Posted by Deacon Blues">Deacon Blues 2006-05-25 11:10|| 2006-05-25 11:10|| Front Page Top

#4 You're right Deacon. If the system ensures 3 co-equal branches of government, then it stands to reason that each branch has some jurisdiction over the other two. Congress seems to think they are totally independent.

Posted by mcsegeek1 2006-05-25 11:32|| 2006-05-25 11:32|| Front Page Top

#5 said House Speaker Dennis Hastert, adding that the FBI agents involved "ought to be frozen out of that [case] for the sake of the Constitution."

NB: Over at the Corner, one of the commentors noted that the agents who actually went into the office were not assigned to the case. Furthermore, the items they seized were then examined by ANOTHER set of agents and lawyers to make sure they were relevant. Only after passing through two teams of uninvolved agents did the agents on the case get the material.

Congress needs an enema so they can see the light. They're not kings.

Posted by Rob Crawford">Rob Crawford 2006-05-25 12:22|| http://www.kloognome.com/]">[http://www.kloognome.com/] 2006-05-25 12:22|| Front Page Top

#6 I don't see the Congressional Black Caucus rushing to his defense on this one.

Black Caucus turns on Pelosi over Jefferson scandal
House Minority Leader (D-CA) is facing a minor insurrection from members of the Black Caucus after asking Representative William Jefferson (D-LA) to step down from his post on the Ways and Means Committee, according to today's Roll Call.

Excerpts from the Roll Call story follow:

But hours after Pelosi sent her letter to Jefferson on Wednesday, a members-only CBC lunch meeting produced an emotional consensus that Pelosi had overreached, since Jefferson has not been charged with any crimes. One after another, CBC members rallied behind their colleague, arguing that he was being singled out. Some noted that another Democrat recently entangled in an ethics controversy, Rep. Alan Mollohan (W.Va.), was forced to step aside as the ranking member of the ethics committee but permitted to keep his coveted Appropriations Committee perch.

Theres no precedent for doing this to someone who has not been indicted, Rep. Al Wynn (Md.) said afterward. Said Clyburn, also a CBC member: I would say that the people who spoke were very vehement in their opposition.

Late in the day on Wednesday, Watt led a delegation of six senior CBC members including Reps. Rangel, John Conyers (Mich.) and John Lewis (Ga.) to a private meeting with Pelosi to inform the Leader that the CBC will publicly oppose her effort.

I think shes taking us down to the point where on Nov. 8 shell still be the Minority Leader, an aide to a CBC member said. Why act now and split the Caucus when theres no precedent for it? Why not wait until theres an indictment, when you could have unanimity behind you?

Posted by Steve">Steve 2006-05-25 15:36|| 2006-05-25 15:36|| Front Page Top

#7 All gottem ancient top loaders in they basements.

Posted by 6 2006-05-25 17:00|| 2006-05-25 17:00|| Front Page Top

#8 ha,,ha,,,ha,,,,,,hahaha

Posted by Captain America 2006-05-25 17:07|| 2006-05-25 17:07|| Front Page Top

#9 The money is said to have the same serial numbers as the $100 bills given to Jefferson through an FBI informant last year.

Recover the money and put JEFFERSON in the freezer and forget about it.

Posted by Besoeker 2006-05-25 17:10|| 2006-05-25 17:10|| Front Page Top

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