Pelosi struggling with response to Jefferson re-election; may give lesser committee assignment

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: Pelosi May Give Jefferson a Lesser Committee Assignment
By Charles Babington and Allan Lengel
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, December 12, 2006; Page A06

House Democratic leaders, who have vowed to run a more ethical Congress, are struggling with how to respond to the reelection of Rep. William J. Jefferson, the Louisiana Democrat whose Washington home freezer once held $90,000 in alleged bribe money.

Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), poised to be the next speaker, stripped Jefferson of his seat on the influential Ways and Means Committee in June and has hinted that she may place him on no committee when the 110th Congress convenes next month. But a source close to Pelosi said yesterday that she is more likely to place him on a lower-profile committee and hope the controversy dies down....

Jefferson, 59, surprised many in Washington on Saturday by comfortably winning a ninth term from his New Orleans-based district. He repeatedly notes that he has not been indicted, and he won endorsements from high-level politicians such as New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin....

The source familiar with Pelosi's thinking said that the incoming speaker wants to distance herself and her caucus from Jefferson and legal problems but that she thinks she cannot ignore that voters returned him to office when details of the investigation were well known.

Sources familiar with the probe said Jefferson will be indicted, probably in the first half of 2007. The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case, said investigators have been looking at about a dozen business deals in the United States and Africa in which Jefferson allegedly used his official position for financial gain....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/11/AR2006121101136.html

[AndyA]

1. If Jefferson has broken any laws, he needs to be held responsible for

his actions.

There can be no exceptions, whether Republican or Democratic, black or white, male or female, corruption and illegal activities must stop. No more double standards.

If the man is guilty, he must pay for his actions. If not, let's get the controversy cleared up and focus on what the GOP has been up to for the past six years. That will make anything Jefferson has been accused of look like nothing.

[kentuck]

2. Is this the first "ethical" challenge for the new majority?

Money in his freezer? Should he still be considered innocent until proven guilty? Why hasn't the Justice Dept brought charges against him yet? When the Justice Dept does its job and finds the evidence to convict Mr Jefferson, then he should be removed? Who is to blame here?

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. That would be a wise move

Perhaps she can put him on the Veterans Affairs Committee. He probably can't get into too much trouble there.

[sam sarrha]

4. give him a glove and tell him to go LOOONG..!!