FBI search DEM congressman's office ...

[MeDeMax]

FBI search of Jefferson's office "outrageous": Attorney

<http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-05-21T180518Z_01_N20360276_RTRUKOC_0_US-CONGRESS-RAID.xml&archived=False>

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A lawyer for Rep. William Jefferson said the FBI raid of the Louisiana Democrat's
congressional office on Saturday night was "outrageous" and unnecessary.

Jefferson. an eight-term congressman, is under investigation for his role in helping a Nigerian company
with an Internet venture. He has maintained his innocence, but a Kentucky businessman pleaded guilty
earlier this month to bribing Jefferson in the venture.

...
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I am not suggesting Jefferson is innocent, but could they be digging for dirt to help admin
frame dem as being corrupt.

Perhaps they forgot, this dude called Abramoff was involved with a herd of repubs, including
Delay. Funny the FBI didn't do any raiding then.

[izzie]

1. GOP needs this for their talking points.

And I guess one Dem is worse than 10 GOP doing this type stuff.

[Kagemusha]

2. As I said yesterday re: Fitz being a "REPUBLICAN"

Granted, I can completely understand having suspicions about various things, but relying solely on the political affiliation of an American citizen to determine guilt of corruption or, in this case, framing a person for corruption, is taking political activism too far. You may, for all I know, be completely correct about your allegations. However, citing mere political affiliations alone as powerful evidence suggesting that any Democratic candidate who the FBI goes after is being framed and any Republican candidate the FBI does not go after, is benefiting from favortism, without any further evidence whatsoever, is prejudice to an extreme level and a vivid example of guilt (or innocence) by association.

Look at the individual. Please.

Because to do otherwise is to corrosively malign the rule of law and the rights of citizens in and of themselves without a sound factual basis for doing so.

[MeDeMax]

6. its a great anti-dem story

Its makes good theater on Fox News, reminds the public in the republic why they should voter republican.

Don't know if you saw the Fox News story on homeless alcoholics in Canada being rehabilitated, it wasn't
news so much as a story that reminded Fox News viewers what happens when "Crazy Liberals" start running
countries.

"AN INTERESTING STUDY (Free Booze for Drunks)"

<http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1552316/posts>

What I am trying to say is don't be so naive, that he is guilty is probably true, that the FBI wants
him is true, the high profile raid of his office is good theater that helps the repubs.

[Kagemusha]

8. Yeah well, maybe it is

but saying it's all because he's a DEM makes you look... less than flattering.

I'm a cynic, mind you. A pretty hardcore one. But even I see the danger of going around crying "They're after a DEM!!!". Which is what you are doing. Which I see in the same league as "Fitz is a REPUBLICAN!!!" for good reason.

[MeDeMax]

9. what I am saying is ...

they are after him in such a high profile way because he is a DEM.

They can do things in a low profile way if they want to, but there is political hay to be made
when a DEM is publicly disgraced.

As was done to prez Clinton.

[Kagemusha]

10. Then he shouldn't have gotten involved with Nigeria internet schemes.

It sounds like he fell for a real life version of famous e-mail scams.

Seriously, it looks like the FBI was after some other guy who pled guilty and said he'd offer a congressman on a silver platter, the FBI ran a sting, the congressman accepted the bribes very stupidly, and now he's caught. Whine all you want that the FBI jumped at the chance for a sting because the congressman offered up on a silver platter is a DEM. But if he was a REPUBLICAN he'd be just as damn guilty.

[ClintonTyree]

3. Our local FOX affiliate.........

has been all over this like stink on shit. They never ONCE reported on Tom DeLay's myriad transgressions, mind you, or any other of the countless GOP screw-ups. But somehow THIS particular case has piqued their interest. Fair and balanced........ :puke:

If Jefferson is guilty then he deserves to be punished, but his "sins" pale in comparison to the host of GOP improprieties committed lately. For some reason Jefferson's is the only one they seem interested in covering though. Wonder why? :shrug:

[MeDeMax]

5. Black DEM accepting bribes ? that's HUGE for Fox News

Imagine how many of their fantasies simultaneously came true:

__ - a DEM,
__ - a Black DEM,
__ - a Black DEM from Kentucy (a conservative southern state that favors repubs)
__ - a Black DEM from Kentucy on tape taking bribes.

By golly, if they rerun this story a 1,000 times this week, it is excellent insurance against
voter unhappiness with republicans.

All the repubs have to ask is :

- "What's the alternative ? A DEM caught on tape taking bribes."

- "Not that it matters, but did we mention he is black ?"

No surprise that this is BIG on Fox News.

[MeDeMax]

7. my error, he is from LA, not Kentucky -- n/t

[MeDeMax]

4. NY Times & Washington Post links

"F.B.I. Contends Lawmaker Hid Bribe in Freezer"

By PHILIP SHENON
Published: May 22, 2006

WASHINGTON, May 21 — The F.B.I. accused Representative William J. Jefferson, Democrat of Louisiana,
on Sunday of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from a Kentucky businessman and
stashing $90,000 from the scheme in his home freezer in Washington.

<http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/22/washington/22jefferson.html?hp&ex=1148270400&en=2bc01901bdbff48e&ei=5094&partner=homepage>

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"Lawmaker taped accepting cash: court document"

By Doug Palmer
Reuters
Sunday, May 21, 2006; 9:10 PM

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - FBI agents videotaped Rep. William Jefferson, a Louisiana Democrat, accepting
$100,000 in cash they said was intended as a bribe for a Nigerian official and later found $90,000
of the money hidden in his freezer, according to a court document released on Sunday.

<http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/22/washington/22jefferson.html?hp&ex=1148270400&en=2bc01901bdbff48e&ei=5094&partner=homepage>

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