WILL CHAPMAN
PUBLISHER

“This man’s passion for Africa was for sale ... He was for sale, simple as it is.”

That’s how U.S. Attorney Mark Lytle, the lead prosecutor on bribery allegations against U.S. Congressman William Jefferson described the New Orleans Democrat who this week was found guilty on 11 of 16 charges.

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Jefferson was the first African-American elected to Congress from Louisiana since Reconstruction. He was defeated in his last bid for reelection by Anh “Joseph” Cao, a little-known Republican.

Jefferson’s indictment and subsequently being found guilty on bribery charges would have received national attention anyway, but the publicity surrounding federal investigators finding $90,000 in cash hidden in his freezer caused his case to receive even more attention from the national media.

Jefferson’s actions were another black eye for New Orleans — especially after he got re-elected despite the allegations of impropriety and the discovery of the hidden cash — and for the state of Louisiana, which has added still another name to its too-lengthy list of crooked politicians.

Jefferson reportedly faces up to 20 years in prison. The federal jury recommended he forfeit some $470,000 paid as bribes to companies he and his families controlled.

Incredibly there are many calling for Jefferson’s prison sentence to be lenient, suggesting his age at 62 means he doesn’t have that much life left to live and doesn’t need to serve time a long time in prison to be punished.

There was no charge and there is no penalty for Jefferson’s clear violation of the public’s trust, but it’s perhaps his most severe infraction.

Jefferson sold out the people of this state, as well as soiled again our state’s reputation. He deserves a stiff sentence and the indignities and inconveniences it brings.

Jefferson was willing to sell out the interests of his constituents, and his state. Now he’s the one that needs to pay.