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Congressman to face bribery rap
04/06/2007 20:39 - (SA)
Washington - An indictment charging Democratic congressman William Jefferson in a long-running bribery investigation was being announced on Monday, said federal officials.
The indictment was being handed up in the district court in Alexandria, Virginia, a Washington suburb.
A news conference was being organised for late on Monday in Washington to discuss the case.
A Justice Department official familiar with the case said the indictment outlining the evidence against Jefferson is more than 2.5cm thick and charged the congressman with crimes that could keep him in prison for up to 200 years.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss the case.
Frozen assets?
Almost two years ago, investigators raided Jefferson's home in the state of Louisiana and found $90 000 (about R642 000) in cash stuffed into a box in his freezer.
Jefferson, 63, whose district includes New Orleans, has said little about the case publicly, but has maintained his innocence. He was re-elected last year despite the looming investigation.
Jefferson could not be reached immediately for comment.
Two of Jefferson's associates already have struck plea bargains with prosecutors and have been sentenced.
Brett Pfeffer, a former congressional aide, admitted soliciting bribes on Jefferson's behalf and was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Agreed to co-operate
Another Jefferson associate, telecommunications executive Vernon Jackson, pleaded guilty to paying between $400 000 (about R2.9m) and $1m (about R7m) in bribes to Jefferson in exchange for his help securing business deals in Nigeria and other African nations.
Jackson was sentenced to more than seven years in prison.
Both Pfeffer and Jackson agreed to co-operate in the case against Jefferson in exchange for their pleas.
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