House suspends Jefferson from powerful committee

[AnOhioan]

Without debate or dissent, the full House on Friday voted to suspend embattled Rep. William Jefferson, D-Louisiana, from the powerful Ways and Means Committee.

The move follows a vote by House Democrats on Thursday evening to suspend Jefferson from the panel.

Jefferson is the subject of a criminal probe into allegations he accepted bribes in return for using his office to facilitate business ventures in Africa. In court documents, prosecutors said $90,000 in cash was found in the freezer of his Washington house when it was searched last summer.

He has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crime. However, a Kentucky businessman and a former Jefferson staffer have both pleaded guilty to corruption charges and agreed to cooperate with investigators.

More at http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/06/16/jefferson.caucus/index.html

[redqueen]

1. How come GOPranos wait till DeLay was indicted to remove him...

and it's a huge fracas even then...

but we do it before the guy's even charged?

something about integrity maybe?

concern with ethical behavior?

hmm...

[Kagemusha]

2. Because they embrace corruption by their own?

Honestly, I'm surprised the GOP didn't just plain vote the resolution down and force the Democrats to keep him on the committee.

[AnOhioan]

4. More from CNN

On Thursday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi pushed her colleagues to vote to suspend Jefferson -- mired in a federal bribery probe -- after he rebuffed her requests to step down voluntarily from the panel. She also rejected a last-minute offer from Jefferson to step down on the condition that he be replaced by another Louisiana lawmaker.

"It's very sad. But our House Democratic Caucus is determined to uphold a high ethical standard. We said it, and now we are doing it," Pelosi said after the vote. "This isn't about proof in a court of law. It's about an ethical standard ... what is acceptable public behavior for a public servant.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/06/16/jefferson.caucus/index.html

[ShaneGR]

3. Good

This is absolutely the correct move, we need to show we deal with misconduct immediately and with harsh consequences for the guilty parties.

[Moderator]

5. DUplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2340767