Why is Rep. William Jefferson still seated in Congress ?

Question

Caught red handed taking bribes,facing 230 years behind bars and still in Congress.
Nancy Pelousy should toss his butt out and hasn't.
Does she need his vote that badly?

Answer 1

Beats the hell outta me! As a lifelong resident of Louisiana, I am ashamed of the politics and crookedness in our beautiful state. I am not in Jefferson's district, so I didn't vote for him. But for the life of me, can't figure out why he was re-elected, even tho he was under investigation, the $90,000 in marked money had already been found in his freezer, his house and offices raided, and he still won the election. Even just yesterday, on local TV news streetside interviews, most of his constituents in New Orleans think he is innocent and has been set up. Oh, the ignorance!

His foolish pride kept him from resigning from the powerful Ways and Means committee. He had to be booted. And just a few days ago, he was booted from a second committee, after refusing to resign. The man should gracefully resign his congressional seat, as he has not represented the best interests of Louisiana, and is a crook. Not only him, but also unnamed family members 1-5 were apparently participants in the Jefferson greed game, using dummy companies to hide bribe money. They'll be indicted shortly too, if they haven't been already.

I'm sure hoping that once the ethics committee gets thru with him, they'll find a way to toss him out on his ear. C'mon...he had $90,000 MARKED MONEY in his freezer in $10,000 bundles wrapped in foil! If it's legit cash, why not put it in the dam bank like the rest of us would.

I think I wanna move to Switzerland.

Answer 2

Why ? Because there are laws and procedures to follow before removing someone from Congress...

What's interesting is that on 30 July 2005, Jefferson was videotaped by the FBI receiving $100,000 worth of $100 bills in a leather briefcase at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Arlington, Virginia... and THEN in NOVEMBER of 2006 he was reelected in Louisiana !! That shows the fine state of politics within Louisiana !!

First, Representative Jefferson has only been INDICTED. He's not yet been tried and convicted (though I doubt he'll walk), so he is considered innocent.

On May 24, 2006, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi publicly requested his immediate resignation from the House Ways and Means Committee; he declined to do so.

On 15 June 2006, House Democrats voted to strip Jefferson of his committee assignment while the federal bribery investigation continues. Members approved the move after Jefferson repeatedly refused to step aside. Despite claims of the Congressional Black Caucus that Jefferson was being treated unfairly, the vote passed 99-58.

Some have reported that the vote was passed as a result of Democrats who are determined to make an election-year point about ethics. The full House, which is the only group with the power to actually remove Jefferson, then stripped him of his seat on the committee on June 16 in a voice vote without debate.

Answer 3

There are three ways a seat in Congress can be vacated:

The occupant dies.

The occupant resigns.

The occupant is expelled by his/her house of Congress. This requires a 2/3 majority of all members, and usually follows a thorough investigation and/or conviction. As of yet, Jefferson hasn't actually been convicted of anything (although he's certainly guilty).

Jefferson HAS been stripped of his committee membership in the House by the Democratic leadership, however, indicating that he will be expelled when all is said and done.

Answer 4

As far as I know Congress has taken up the matter and Jefferson's days are probably limited in Congress. I wouldn't look for him to resign though. It has been my experience that Democrats almost never resign. On those rare occasions when they finally do there is no option left and they are facing expulsion by the full body. I also don't care for Nancy Pelosi, but I do feel the need to set the record straight on this. She did call for Jefferson to resign shortly after ascending to the post of Speaker earlier this year.

Answer 5

regrettably he became voted in via his state. As a democrat I say confident he could resign from the congress. There could be no tolerance for unlawful activities. the only difficulty is maximum of congress democrats and republicans could could resign. They snigger at us no count number if we help the democrats or republicans on an identical time as they line their wallet. What take place to term limits that the republicans promised in the event that they have been given in ?? under no circumstances got here approximately. enable's push for this !!!

Answer 6

why is Ted Kennedy still out of Prison? Why Is OJ OUt? Why was Marion Barry re-elected in washington DC?

Answer 7

Now that the indictments are in, he'll be gone within a few weeks if not days.

Answer 8

Same question why are George Bush and Dick Cheney still in office?

Answer 9

I don't know, maybe because he hasn't been convicted of anything . . . yet.