 A Democratic congressman facing a bribery probe after FBI agents found $90,000 in his freezer denied wrongdoing on Monday and said he would not step down from his congressional seat. Speaking to reporters, Louisiana Rep. William Jefferson said he could not discuss details of the pending federal investigation. "There are two sides to every story. There are certainly two sides to this story," said Jefferson, adding, "This is not the time, this is not the forum" to discuss it.
| "Just gimme a little time. I'll think of something!" |
He again declared his innocence and vowed he would not resign. "I expect to continue to represent the people who sent me here," he said.
| "If they don't mind me wetting my beak why should you?" |
The investigation has complicated Democratic efforts to exploit several scandals involving Republicans as they try to take back control of Congress in November's elections. FBI investigators raided Jefferson's office over the weekend and disclosed they had videotaped the New Orleans lawmaker accepting $100,000 cash intended as a bribe for a Nigerian official. The FBI also said in a court affidavit that it found $90,000 of that money hidden in a freezer in his house. |