NYT/AP: Ex-Congressional Aide (to Jefferson, D., La.) Makes Plea Deal

[DeepModem Mom]

Ex - Congressional Aide Makes Plea Deal
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: January 11, 2006
Filed at 10:58 a.m. ET


McLEAN, Va. (AP) -- A former aide to U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., has negotiated a plea deal with prosecutors in which he is expected to admit to bribery of public officials and conspiracy, the Associated Press has learned.

Brett Pfeffer is expected to plead guilty to the charges Wednesday afternoon at a hearing in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, according to court documents. The documents do not name the public officials who allegedly were bribed....

***

Prosecutors have been investigating Jefferson in connection with a telecommunications deal he was trying to arrange in Nigeria. The FBI raided Jefferson's home in August and the Maryland home of Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Jefferson was first elected to the House in 1990, becoming the first black congressman from Louisiana since Reconstruction. He represents most of New Orleans, including sections of the city that were hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina.

The investigation has looked into Jefferson's dealings with a privately held technology company, iGate Inc. in Louisville, Ky., which was seeking telecommunications contracts in Nigeria.


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Congressman-Probe.html

[stop the bleeding]

1. You know the freepers will be jumping on this one, even though it is not

related to Abramoff.

[EST]

2. As well they should.

No one's ethics, especially in public office, should be for sale.

[stop the bleeding]

3. I completely agree, but what I was saying that they will try and tie this

in with the Abramoff scandal. "everyone is doing it" excuse.

[EST]

5. No doubt.

And one cannot assume that the "public" will make the effort/take the time to do a bit of research and determine the truth.
Oughta' be some way to filter the outgushing of all the crap.

[UpInArms]

4. I bet the MSM will be all over this one!

What a great thing to be able to ignore or compare to that puny little Abramoff distraction :sarcasm:

[KamaAina]

6. What a perfect excuse to stiff NOLA on hurricane relief

"It'd just go into the pockets of those darn corrupt politicians anyway!" :puke:

Of course the most breathtakingly corrupt pol in the entire region is Haley Barbour over in Miss., but "IOKIYAR" (It's OK If You're A Republican).

[PhilipShore]

7. Fox News: Former Congressional Aide Pleads Guilty in Bribery Scandal

Fox News
January 11, 2006

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,181333,00.html

Brett Pfeffer , a former aide to Rep. William Jefferson , D-La., entered his plea deal in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va. Pfeffer faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced March 31 and a fine of up to $500,000.

[politicaholic]

8. See? See? This totally exonerates all republicans from scandal...

now THAT'S logic!

[Faygo Kid]

9. A business in Nigeria? They make me great offers all the time.

Can't tell you how many times a wealthy Nigerian has offered me big time bucks for helping them move their money into my bank account. Fantastic business opportunity, eh? How did Abramoff miss out on this one?

[liberalnurse]

10. It sounds to me....

that this case stems from activity almost 8 years ago......Not a big find is it.:blush:

[Judi Lynn]

11. Not big but apparently just in time.

Guess some will be scouring the internetS for any news of a bent Democrat. Scour as they will, they'll NEVER find anything to approach the unforgivable insult Republicans have perpetrated against the country, and the world, spanning years and years.

[Rose Siding]

12. TPM post says this aide also lobbied for the bushbots-

so maybe Jefferson isn't the only fish in this net:

(January 11, 2006 -- 01:55 PM EST // link)
A bit earlier we told you how one of Rep. Bill Jefferson's (D-LA) former staffers, Brett Pfeffer, is pleading guilty today to charges of bribing public officials in a federal court in Northern, Virginia. One of our favorite TPM Readers sends us in this note ...

Josh-- Brett Pfeffer was president of MorganFranklin Corp., whose clients include the Executive Office of the President and DoD, among others.
Among their projects have been the IT infrastructure for Bush's 2d inaugural and technical support to the 2004 G8 Summit hosted by Bush last year.

Also worth noting that MorganFranklin's lobbyists are a couple of Republicans from Dutko.

Can't tell yet when Pfeffer's gig there ended. I'll keep you posted.


We'll keep you posted too.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/007413.php