(Photo Source: Trial Sketch)
This Just In:
William “Cold Cash” Jefferson, former Democratic Representative from Louisiana was sentenced to 13 years in prison today after being convicted on a number of federal corruption charges.
Jefferson, you will recall, was infamous for having $90,000 in bribe money hidden in his freezer.
According to John Bresnahan on Politico.com:
Jefferson’s sentence was the harshest ever handed out to a former lawmaker, but Justice Department officials said Jefferson warranted such a severe sanction due to the unprecedented scale of his corruption.
There will be no appeal. Given the nature of his corruption, he’s lucky he only got 13 years, harshest sentence or not.
Again from Bresnahan:
Jefferson, 62, will be the fifth former member of Congress since 2000 to end up behind bars, joining ex-Reps. Duke Cunningham (R-Calif.), Jim Traficant (Ohio), Bob Ney (R-Ohio) and Frank Ballance (D-N.C.) on the list of imprisoned lawmakers.
A sixth former member, ex-Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.), was indicted last year on federal fraud and money laundering charges, but his case has yet to go to trail due to constitutional challenges raised by Renzi’s attorneys.
I don’t care what party you belong to… you belonged to the UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – A privilege that should not be taken lightly, nor abused in the manner done by Jefferson, Cunningham, Traficant, Ney and Ballance and, allegedly, by Renzi.
Let the chips fall where they will; get these vermin OUT of government and then, please… GO BACK FOR MORE. There’s no shortage.
There will be no book deals, no appearances on Oprah and no one to take on you’re your cause, gentlemen. Let Renzi have his day in court to attempt to prove his innocence or, hopefully, do the right thing if he’s, in fact, guilty. The others? You are the scum of the earth. You lived privileged lives as Representatives, and decided that was not enough. You wanted more at our expense, and you took it. From Payoffs to Payback – Rot away, gentlemen.
And to those of you in Congress that haven’t been caught yet… tick-tock…
Gerry Ashley
Grand Rants 
Randy “Duke” Cunningham was the real disappointment for me. This is the same Duke Cunningham that was the only U.S. Navy ace fighter pilot in the Vietnam War (Willy Driscoll, his Radar Intercept Officer, was also credited as being an ace). He was awarded the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, 15 Air Medals, and a Purple Heart. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, I guess. He forgot what honor is about.
Amen to that, Tony. Excellent points. I have a friend in San Diego who knew “Duke” and said their wasn’t an honorable bone in his body once he got into politics. He didn’t just let it corrupt him. He actively sought it out.
When heroes go down by their own actions, it’s in flames.
Gerry
13 years is a long time!!!