William Jefferson bows out of trial

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William Jefferson bows out of trial
Prosecutors unsure of next steps

Jack Florey ONS
September 22, 2008
Posted 10:04am

NEW ORLEANS - Embattled Louisiana representative William Jefferson has announced that he will no longer cooperate with Federal investigators over their prosecution of corruption charges associated with the discovery of $90,000 cash in his home freezer.

"This has gone on long enough," a spokesman for Jefferson said. "We agreed to cooperate, and we have in fact cooperated with authorities to the fullest extent possible. We have explained that the money was given to him by the FBI to offer to the Nigerian Vice President, and that the issue is now resolved to everyone's satisfaction."

Jefferson also indicated that he would be telling the witnesses for the prosecution to not testify against him. As many of them are key employees or former employees of his office, he explained, the loss of so many staff members would result in unacceptable delays in critical legislation.

Federal prosecutors have apparently been caught unawares by Jefferson's refusal to cooperate.

"We had spoken to Representative Jefferson several times, and he assured us he would cooperate in his upcoming trial," said District Attorney Ken Giles on Monday. "I can't understand why he would change his mind on this."

Officials close to the case suggest that this will make prosecuting the case much more difficult, if not impossible.

"We certainly don't want to present the appearance of partisan politics, so we can't really compel him or his staff to appear at the trial," said one official speaking on condition of anonymity. "And without him or any of the witnesses we have planned, we just don't have much of a case."

Jefferson spokesperson David Michaels explained the change in strategy. "Representative Jefferson has served Louisiana well throughout his tenure in Washington, and is now facing a tough election battle against opponents who will do whatever they can to smear him. We have decided to not allow them to use the courts to advance their partisan agendas."

Jefferson confirmed their decision on Monday afternoon in a phone conversation with reporters. He said he is "unlikely to co-operate" with the trial "so long as it remains tainted and run by partisan individuals that have a pre-determined conclusion."

The Refusal Defense, as it has come to be called, was first successfully used by the Bush-Cheney administration in 2004, when administration staff members chose not to answer subpoenas that they felt were overly partisan. Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin recently invoked this defense in the ongoing ethics investigation into her actions as Governor of Alaska, calling the investigation "politically motivated."

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The Refusal Defense, as it has come to be called, was first successfully used by the Bush-Cheney administration in 2004, when administration staff members chose not to answer subpoenas that they felt were overly partisan. Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin recently invoked this defense in the ongoing ethics investigation into her actions as Governor of Alaska, calling the investigation "politically motivated."

The press loves to always tie in something like this. As I recall, a Congressional subpoena and an ethics investigation is slightly different from a federal prosecution and trial.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[Lucky... 0]

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The Refusal Defense, as it has come to be called, was first successfully used by the Bush-Cheney administration in 2004, when administration staff members chose not to answer subpoenas that they felt were overly partisan. Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin recently invoked this defense in the ongoing ethics investigation into her actions as Governor of Alaska, calling the investigation "politically motivated."

The press loves to always tie in something like this. As I recall, a Congressional subpoena and an ethics investigation is slightly different from a federal prosecution and trial.

Yes, the press are a bunch of homo-loving, commy-pinko socialist minorities...... the same ones that covered the Clinton impeachment and other events that the dems disliked. Listen to Jesse Ventura: The media is neither liberal nor conservative, the media is a business and they MAKE news in order to further their business.