Whistleblower says Rep. Jefferson also took bribes from Texas cable magnate
Washington
June 6, 2006 ”TomFlocco.com ”Whistleblower says Rep. Jefferson also
took bribes from Texas cable magnate ”Federal
prosecutors are being advised to scrutinize the financial records of New Orleans
Congressman William J. Jefferson for tax years 2000 and 2002 by federal
whistleblower Stewart Webb who received new inside information directly
connected to the federal probe of the Louisiana congressman. It was revealed
that Jefferson took alleged bribes from Texas cable TV magnate Richard
Halden for favorable actions and votes for cable television contracts and
licenses for Urban Television Network Corporation, a Nevada entity headquartered
in Arlington, Texas. Other unnamed entities are also reportedly involved, said
Webb. The Network was created to serve African-American and Hispanic viewers
according to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings on November 11,
2005. Halden's father was a prominent heart surgeon according to the sources who
verified Halden's identity.
According to reports, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist defended the
congressional bribery investigation raid by federal agents on Jefferson's
Capitol Hill office, a move which broke with senior House Republicans who called
the search unconstitutional. Frist called the FBI search appropriate,
disagreeing with House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) who demanded that the FBI
return the materials taken from Jefferson's office. Hastert and House Democratic
Leader Nancy Pelosi of California said the FBI had not notified them before the
raid and indicated that the search violated the constitutional principle of the
separation of powers.
Nobody should be above the law of the land, period, said Frist. President Bush
ordered the confiscated documents sealed for 45 days, to Obstruct Justice
relating to the AIPC Jack Abramoff (Greenburg-Trarig) ties to the investigation; however, the actions raise questions of possible
Obstruction of Justice regarding their content and whether other legislators or federal
officials may also be implicated. Washington, DC Federal District Court Chief
Judge Thomas F. Hogan signed the warrant authorizing the search of Jefferson's
Rayburn House office. The warrant was issued based on video tape of Jefferson
accepting $100,000 in $100 bills from an FBI informant named by a law
enforcement source as Lori Mody who agreed to have her conversations taped. The
FBI found $90,000 in cash in a freezer at one of the congressman's homes in
Washington and New Orleans last August.
www.stewwebb.com