Timing and the Jefferson Indictment

[babylonsister]

http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com/the_next_hurrah/2007/06/timing_and_the_.html#more

Timing and the Jefferson Indictment

by emptywheel

I guess I'm going to have to add a "Democratic Scandal" topic to the blog, now that William Jefferson has finally been indicted. It's about time.

I know a lot of people are worried that this is just a distraction on the eve of Libby's sentencing and what is likely to be a barnburner of an SJC hearing with Schlozman and Graves. But I think, if the Democrats don't fold, the timing could serve us well. Here's why. Clearly, there is a whole freezer load of evidence against Jefferson for doing the same kind of stuff we attack in Cunningham and DeLay. The case was filed in EDVA, under Chuck Rosenberg, who is the guy who forced Gonzales to put the internal DOJ investigation into IG where it belonged and who intervened to prevent some of Monica Goodling's politicized hiring. When Rosenberg says, "Frankly, we don’t give a damn about politics ... He broke the law. Period," I believe him.

In other words, this appears to be a real prosecution for what appears to be a real crime overseen by a real prosecutor.

Which offers Democrats an opportunity to show the Republicans what it means to support transparency and justice. Sure, I expect the CBC to complain a bit. But I do hope Democrats look on the indictment of Jefferson as a way to remove someone who someone who (appears to have) abused his office and sold out the interests of the American people. As we go forward and try to tamp down calls for Libby's pardon and claims that we're criminalizing politics because we believe in the rule of law, having a Jefferson indictment in the background (hopefully with a nearly unified Democratic voice applauding the investigation and indictment) may well serve as a useful counterpoint.

I just hope the Democrats don't let me down...

Via TP, the Speaker doesn't disappoint:

The charges in the indictment against Congressman Jefferson are extremely serious. While Mr. Jefferson, just as any other citizen, must be considered innocent until proven guilty, if these charges are proven true, they constitute an egregious and unacceptable abuse of public trust and power. As we have demonstrated in implementing tough ethics reforms and passing tough lobbying reforms already this year, Democrats are committed to upholding a high ethical standard and eliminating corruption and unethical behavior from the Congress.