Rep. William Jefferson says he's going broke defending against federal bribery 'conspiracy'

Jet, April 14, 2008 by Kevin Chappell

The FBI said it found $90,000 cash in his freezer. He faces federal bribery and corruption charges that could possibly land him behind bars for the rest of his life. But in an exclusive interview with JET Magazine--his first extensive interview since being charged nearly three years ago--Louisiana congressman William Jefferson said that his trial, which is scheduled to begin in June, will be more of an indictment of corrupt government tactics than anything improper that he has done.

With his wife, Andrea, by his side (and a team of lawyers ready to reign him in if he veered off script), Jefferson appeared quite confident for a man who was videotaped in 2005 allegedly taking a $100,000 bribe (all $100 bills stuffed in a leather briefcase) at a Washington, D.C.-area hotel from an undercover FBI official. (A few days later, FBI agents raided his home and reportedly found $90,000 of the money stuffed in frozen food containers in his freezer.)

During the wide-ranging question-and-answer session, Jefferson, 61, maintained that a federal conspiracy was behind his 16-count indictment on bribery charges. While the federal prosecutors claim that Jefferson used his office to take bribes in exchange for connecting those looking to do business in Africa with high-ranking African officials, Jefferson said that his dealings was part of a legitimate family business.

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To prove his case and clear his name, the veteran lawmaker said that he has spent so much of his personal money preparing to defend himself that he has already had to sell everything of value that he owned--including his home.

But if there's one thing that he's learned growing up on a farm in the deep South, is that a man doesn't run from a fight, especially one that he thinks that he can win. With that, the soft-spoken Jefferson emphatically proclaimed that he was sure that, when it's all said and done, he would reclaim his place in history as Louisiana's first Black congressman since the end of Reconstruction, and continue the business of helping his constituents in New Orleans--who reelected him to a ninth term in 2006-recover post-Katrina.

JET: Congressman Jefferson, as you understand it, what are the charges against you?

JEFFERSON: The court ordered charge is bribery. People come to me and I say, "I'll do things for you if you pay me." That didn't happen, and we will be able to show that at by the end of the trial.

JET: All along, you have maintained your innocence, is that still your contention?

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JEFFERSON: It is absolutely true that I've never used my office for anything other than to serve the people. If the government wants to categorize the things that have happened to me otherwise, they are wrong about it, and we'll be able to prove that ... We will be able to demonstrate that what happened to me was business between people, and not anything else.

JET: What business operations did you have with corporations and people in Africa?

JEFFERSON: I can't tell you a lot of detail about it because I have to be careful what I say. What I can say is that it was legitimate business that my family was involved in, that we invested time, effort and money in.

JET: Did you break any laws?

JEFFERSON: No, I haven't broken any laws. I wouldn't be going through this, trying to clear my name, if I had broken laws ... It will be shocking to people when they hear the real facts in this case. It's in the government's interest to have us give up because they don't want to have to tell their side of the story. If I were guilty of something, then I would just give up. But I'm not guilty, so I will not give up.

JET: It has been reported that $90,000 was discovered in your freezer by federal authorities. How can you explain that?

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JEFFERSON: It's an obvious reason for all of these things. But it is premature to get into it now. I can understand that people are curious about it. The only thing that I can say is that it had nothing to do with bribing anybody, or paying a bribe to anybody--none of that.

JET: But it was in the freezer? JEFFERSON: (With a half smile, he did not respond.)

JET: You have said that the tactics that the government uses has surprised you. What tactics, in particular, have surprised you the most?

JEFFERSON: They will absolutely not tell the truth, in order to have a case come out the way that they want it to come out. When they get involved, they want to win. And in order to win, they will press people so hard that they will make up stuff. And they, themselves, will say things that are not true.... And it's hard to prove that the government will make up stuff, but they do. It's dangerous when someone will put their hand on the Bible, and swear that something is true in order to get a conviction.

JET: What toll have these allegations taken on you and your family?

JEFFERSON: It's very tough financially. We have created a defense fund that our friends can contribute to. But you never match the government. So it beats you down. You sell this, you sell that and you use all the money that you have. We've sold our house, the things inside of our house ("It's been hard," his wife added. "It's been hard on our children. But we are a family and we believe in him, we are supporting him and we are there for him. We believe in God. We have faith.)