I know he's from Louisiana and has been indicted by Gonzo's justice department

[RB TexLa]

but is it ok if DU waits for a trial before declaring William Jefferson a "crook," or "corrupt," or "guilty."?

edit: there no reference to how people get treated in US courts, sorry.

[tridim]

1. When does Tom Delay's trial start?

[bryant69]

2. Well it's ok if individuals want to

If other people look at the facts and guess that he might be a crook or corrupt or guilty, well, that's ok too.

I'm not sure why you think William Jefferson's race plays into declaring him a crook.

Bryant

[RB TexLa]

4. I don't. It just has historically played into the legal system in this country.

[bryant69]

5. And you think Jefferson is being persecuted because of his race?

Here at DU? Or in general?

Bryant

[RB TexLa]

11. the historical issue of race in the courts.

There have been and to an extent is a difference in the way defendants of various races presumption of guilt and innocence is viewed.

As far as the reason behind those who have said he should resign simply because B*sh's justice department has indicted him, you will have to ask them. Apparently now an indictment by Alberto's justice department carries a lot of weight here at DU.


edit: spelling

[bryant69]

19. While I certainly think the presumption of guilt or innocense

is a valid concern; I'm not sure it's the driving concern here. Or I'm not sure that if he were white, there wouldn't still be a certain question of whether or not he's guilty.

Bryant

[karlrschneider]

22. Well, the FBI found his stash a year before the U.S. Attorney was appointed.

...

[TahitiNut]

10. Yes, we should certainly "look at the facts" ...

... and we can certainly trust our corporate media to present them in a fair and balanced fashion.

:dunce:

[bryant69]

18. Well then how would we determine whether or not

we believe him to be innocent or guilty? Particularly as there are discussions of whether or not he should resign.

Bryant

[MNDemNY]

3. I won't say anything as to his guilt or innocence,

but I do think he should resign his seat before the sun sets. We demanded this of Delay, same here.

[panader0]

6. "Innocent until proven guilty" but the $90,000 in the fridge looks bad....

[WiseButAngrySara]

8. Really bad! I wondered if it could have been a plant though,

because it was during Katrina that all of this came to light, or started to defrost, no?

[etherealtruth]

13. I don't recall that he ever claimed it wasn't his ....

... I don't know, this doesn't look good for him. If he is guilty of any impropriety I do hope he steps (or is forced) down immediately

[WiseButAngrySara]

17. I agree. I must admit I haven't been following it....n/t

[MadAsHellAgain]

27. This sounds so bogus

When it looks like a Republican is crooked, everybody here rightly screams for justice and to have the bastard thrown in jail. Here you have a guy DEAD TO RIGHTS on selling his office and we call it an impropriety and say he should have to step down. How can Democrats claim any credibility with that kind of double standard?

[WiseButAngrySara]

28. Hey, welcome to DU 9 posts MadAsHellAgain! Not that I don't

disagree with all that you have posted, but what are you mad about AGAIN?

[MadAsHellAgain]

24. He is a CROOK

Was it an impersonator who solicited the money? C'mon, the guy is a crook. Cuz he's a Democrat, this has to be a frame-up? I grew up in Louisiana. I've seen a shit-load of crooked politicians, Democrat and Republican. Greed is an equal opportunity employer.

[WiseButAngrySara]

29. Unfortunately Katrina made of all a bit more acutely aware of

the "shit-load of crooked politicians, Democrat and Republican" in Louisiana, and they are still not the ones suffering. Those displaced from and those remaining in NOLA are still suffering.

Don't you mean DemocratIC??? Enjoy your stay. Hope it will be brief. I smell a freeper.

typo edit.

[slackmaster]

12. Innocent until proven guilty applies to the state

Individuals are free to have and express opinions as they please, subject to civil action if they knowingly make a misstatement.

[BlooInBloo]

7. Do you know he had like a $100,000 in his freezer?

I mean, you seem to know everything that's IRrelevant.

[myrna minx]

14. Oh, come on, doesn't everyone? I mean, I'm always having

shove aside a few bricks of $100.00 bills to get to my Ben & Jerry's.

[Bluebear]

9. delete

answered upthread

[Lone_Star_Dem]

15. I don't understand the part about Louisianan

I get the racial implication on his being African-American. But have you thought that it just may be the fact that he was caught with $90k stuffed in his freezer that has people thinking he's did something wrong?

[rasputin1952]

16. Always go for the trial...and I don't care which side of the

aisle he sits on...trial, if guilty convict and send to prison...cut and dried. This is what justice is all about, no one is above the law.

At present, w/what I know of the case...things don't look good for him.

[Forkboy]

20. Agreed

[GumboYaYa]

21. William Jefferson is a crook...good riddance.

You can wait for the trial, but as far as I am concerned don't let the door hit him on the ass on the way out. Anyone who commandeers National Guard resources after Katrina to go get $90,000 in cash from his freezer when people are dying on their rooftops is a despicable excuse for a human being.

[KingFlorez]

23. A trial isn't needed for people to have an opinion

[Old and In the Way]

25. I'll wait for the trial.

When the story 1st surfaced, I was pretty sure this was just another case of a freelancing Democrat (as opposed to the systematic corruption of the Republican Party), leveraging his office for personal profit. Given what we now know about the serious politicization of the USA office to further Republican electoral interests, I'm not so sure now. Surely, a case for a corrupt Democratic Congressperson was needed to offset the growing number of Republican indictments.

We weren't there when the $ was uncovered and, frankly, I find the whole idea of stuffing that sum of cash in a refrigerator mighty odd. A stack of $100.00 bills would be 3-1/2" or so thick to make $90K. It would be easy to plant. I'll wait for the bullet-proof details that show Jefferson was guilty of bribery.

[cui bono]

26. I'm just curious is you've ever called Delay, Cheney or W

a "crook", "corrupt" or "guilty".

I have, and I don't think there's anything wrong with it.