Boehner will try to force Jefferson expulsion.

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/06/04/boehner-will-try-to-force-jefferson-expulsion/

Boehner will try to force Jefferson expulsion.

“House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) moved quickly to force the expulsion of Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) from Congress following his indictment Monday on federal corruption charges. The Republican leader will ask members of the House to vote on a resolution requiring the ethics committee to review the indictment filed against him in order to seek his expulsion from the House, according to his office.”

VERSUS

Boehner on the retirement of criminally-indicted Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX), April 2006:

The country owes Tom a great debt of gratitude for helping lead America in a new direction — a direction outlined in the Contract with America that saw balanced budgets, historic welfare reforms, lower taxes, regulatory relief, and a renewed respect for the sanctity of life.

He has served our nation with integrity and honor, and I’m honored to call him my colleague and friend.

[Ezlivin]

1. I wish I could pull a Boehner

I would...

[Greyskye]

2. and the Dem's should as well

Just because the repubs are hypocritical crooks doesn't mean that we have to be. I say boot Jefferson's ass out the door. Crooked politicians of any stripe are a pox on society, and I want them out of my house!

[Demeter]

15. What Happened to Innocent Until Proven Guilty?

[Sgent]

17. That's in criminal courts

our representatives should be held to a higher standard -- and a true bill says that he probably did it.

The appearance of corruption allows campaign finance laws, and the appearance of corruption should get Jefferson booted.

[Greyskye]

25. Look.

He was VIDEOTAPED accepting $100,000 in marked bills from an informer.

In a subsequent search of his Washington, D.C. home, authorities found $90,000, which court documents say was the same money, wrapped in aluminum foil and stored in food containers in a kitchen freezer.

His aide, Brett Pfeffer, admitted soliciting bribes on Jefferson's behalf and was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Another Jefferson associate, telecommunications executive Vernon Jackson, pleaded guilty to paying between $400,000 and $1 million in bribes to Jefferson in exchange for his assistance securing business deals in Nigeria and other African nations. Jackson was sentenced to more than seven years in prison.

What happened to holding public officials to a higher standard?

[napi21]

3. The Dems hould beat him to it! Kick Jefferson out, at least until

after his trial, then tell Boner he can sit down and shut up...the problem has been handled!

[Parche]

4. Boner Cry

I want to see Boner cry again...it was so....Republican :rofl: :rofl:

[Homer12]

5. Stupid Bleeding heart Compassionate conservatives.

n/t

[Blue_In_AK]

6. I believe he should be expelled.

It makes us look hypocritical in the extreme if we demand that indicted Republican law makers resign but then try to rally around an indicted Democrat. He needs to go so that the people of his district can have untainted representation.

[Disturbed]

10. Does Indicted mean guilty?

Delay wasn't expelled was he?

Was Libby fired after his Indictment?

[Mojambo]

12. We should hold ourselves to a higher standard.

In fact the Democrats won in 2006 largely ON setting a higher standard.

Here's the first test.

[MiniMe]

22. Libby resigned before he was indicted

or as he was about to be indicted.

[Blue_In_AK]

26. No, indicted doesn't mean guilty,

but I think that as long as the cloud of indictment is hanging over a public servant's head, most likely his or her effectiveness in that position is seriously compromised.

As for Libby and Delay, I don't think they should have stayed in their positions either. Go take care of your case, and then if you're acquitted, return to your position fully vindicated.

Call me old-fashioned, but I just don't think indicted individuals should be setting policy or writing laws. It just doesn't sit right with me.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. Jefferson should go, of course; but if Boner tries to get him expelled

I hope somebody asks him why he wasn't in such a big hurry to get Bugman Delay expelled when he got his ugly ass indicted for corruption.

[youngdem]

8. Jefferson should resign quickly

That way, a Dem governor can replace him. Otherwise, Bobby Jindal - a Repuke - will get the chance to replace him on the interim.


The district is solid 'D', but a Repuke appointment could fuck up the balance of power until the new election.

[malaise]

21. Bingo n/t

[ButterflyBlood]

27. Appointment by Governor is only for Senate seats

If Jefferson resigns, there will be a special election.

[GrantDem]

9. In order to NOT be hypocritcal (like Boehner)..

The dems should be asking for his resignation as well. If your going to "drain the swamp" that standard applies both ways.

[Mojambo]

11. Boehner's a fucking hypocrite, but Jefferson MUST be removed. Faster the better.

If ANY Democrat steps up to oppose this I'll be greatly dismayed.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

13. Well He's Right. But It Should've Never Come To His Statement.

Before any repub even had a chance to utter such things, Jefferson should've either resigned on his own or the Dem leadership should've IMMEDIATELY demanded he do so. I'm disappointed that neither occurred. Now we have to swallow this boehner shit.

[fooj]

18. We don't have to swallow anything from the asshole.

I don't take my cues from a lying, treasonous hypocrite. Do you?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

19. Yes, We Do Have To Swallow It.

The whole point is that now he's out in front on the public calls for his removal. That means their side gets credit this round for wanting to take action towards corruption. Regardless of hypocrisy or otherwise, the public still hears corruption, hears democrat, hears that it was the republicans who were demanding his removal. That's the fact now. So yes, we do in fact have to swallow that shit.

Fact is, I'm extremely disappointed that they even had the chance. Jefferson should've been respectful enough to resign immediately, and having failed to do so the Dem leaders should demanded it loudly and persistently as soon as the news came out.

[tammywammy]

23. Agreed

It Boehner shouldn't have had the time to make this statement, Jefferson should have resigned already.

[pscot]

14. Good

Pelosi ought to get out front on this one. The black caucus too. A crook is a crook.

[LSparkle]

16. ***WHAT ... A ... BONER!***

:eyes:

[originalpckelly]

20. It's a shame that Boehner even had the opportunity...

The idiots in his district shouldn't have sent Jefferson back to Congress.

And what about Nancy Pelosi, she should have called for Jefferson's resignation the moment the indictments came forward.

[MiniMe]

24. Pelosi asked him to resign from the Ways and Means committee in 2006

Which Jefferson refused to do. Do you really think he would have resigned from Congress?

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/05/pelosi_to_jeffe.html

In a letter today, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, asked Congressman William J. Jefferson, D-LA, to immediately resign from the Ways and Means Committee.

Jefferson promptly declined the request, stating that stepping down would unfairly punish his constituents. He called Pelosi's request discriminatory since "no other member of Congress currently under federal investigation has been asked to step down from a substantive, legislative committee assignment."

The FBI raided Jefferson's congressional offices on Saturday night, the first such raid on Capitol Hill in history.

Jefferson is under investigation for allegedly taking bribes in exchange for his help in securing a telecommunications contract in Africa. According to court documents, Jefferson was caught on tape accepting $100,000 in cash from an FBI informant. The cash was later found in a freezer in Jefferson's house.

Federal officials tell ABCNews that they expect a formal indictment against Jefferson to be filed by July.



From October 2006:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6387196

Juan Williams discusses political news of the week with Ron Walters, professor of political science at the University of Maryland and the Rev. Joseph Watkins, a member of the government-relations group, Buchanan, Ingersoll and Rooney. This week, they talk about Senate minority leader Nancy Pelosi's recent call for the resignation of Louisiana Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA).



To me, Jefferson winning re-election after these charges coming out is worse than anything else. He won the primary and he won the election, even with all this out in the open. The voters of Lousiana should be ashamed of that one.