William Jefferson (D-LA) Indicted; 16 Counts

Representative William Jefferson, who touts himself as "well-known and respected by his colleagues on both sides of the aisle as an expert on trade and tax issues," was indicted today on 16 felony counts and faces sentences of as much as 200 years in prison.

Readers will recall that Rep. Jefferson commandeered a National Guard convoy and helicopter to help him rescue papers and files from a home threatened by Katrina at about the same time the FBI was recovering $90,000 in cash from his freezer. His case later made news when federal agents armed with a subpoena and seeking evidence of his bribe-taking, raided his congressional office. House leaders continue to fight that search in court, arguing that how Rep. Jefferson conducted his congressional responsibilities in his offices is off limits to search by federal police agencies. Co-defendants have already plead out to paying him as much as $1 million in bribes.

The FBI has videotape of the representative accepting a $100,000 bribe.

Last year, under intense pressure then-Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi transferred Jefferson from the Ways and Means committee to Homeland Security, averring that it "is an appropriate place for him to be."


No doubt.