Culture of Corruption Update

Harry Reid issued a press release today on lobbying reform on the same day a businessman pleaded guilty to bribing Representative William Jefferson, (D-LA) . Here's the last paragraph of Reid's press release:
If the trial of Tom Delay and prison terms for Jack Abramoff and Duke Cunningham don't convince the Republican Party to clean up its act, Americans should begin to wonder what will.
Harry's timing is brutal at minimum. William Jefferson is every bit as guilty as Duke Cunningham. Additionally, Harry's a "first tier target" of the DOJ's investigation into Abramoff's influence-peddling. Tom DeLay isn't in that first tier. In light of this information, who's the corrupt party?

In all fairness, neither party has a lock on being the 'Party of Virtue'. That's why I don't see this 'issue' being a winner for Democrats. It isn't like people think that Republicans are less virtuous than Democrats. They've seen plenty of corruption on both sides of the aisle.
Vernon Jackson, 53, chief executive of Louisville-based iGate Inc., pleaded guilty to bribery of a public official and conspiracy to bribe a public official.

The congressman was not identified in court documents or during Wednesday's plea hearing, but documents make clear that the congressman whom Jackson admits bribing is Rep. William Jefferson, a Democrat who represents New Orleans. Jackson faces a maximum of 20 years when he is sentenced July 27. The plea agreement calls for a sentencing guideline range not to exceed seven to nine years, but the judge is not bound by those guidelines.

Prosecutor Mark Lytle said Jackson paid roughly $360,000 over a four-year period to a company controlled by the congressman's wife in exchange for Jefferson's help promoting iGate technology in Africa. Jackson also gave the company a 24 percent stake in iGate and paid for $80,000 in travel expenses on the congressman's trips to Africa to promote iGate. Jackson said in court that the congressman helped iGate receive a government certification allowing the company to obtain military contracts. After that, the congressman insisted on financial compensation to continue his efforts on behalf of iGate.
That sounds every bit as bad as Randy Cunningham's indiscretions to me.

Cross-posted at California Conservative

Posted Wednesday, May 3, 2006 6:38 PM

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