Jefferson Won't Step Down
Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA), videotaped by the FBI taking $100,000 in cash from an informant, told reporters this afternoon that because the federal investigation "does not retard" his capacity to "represent the people I represent," he won't resign.
"I plan to go to the floor to vote tonight. I plan to carry on my responsibilities here as I have since I've been here," he said. "I expect to continue to represent the people who sent me here."
But Jefferson pointedly did not promise to seek re-election, saying that while he "expects" to run again, "that is a matter down the road."
Jefferson refused to answer questions about the allegations, which have percolated for more than a year and churned the stomachs of Democrats who had hoped to use Republican ethics problems as a foil in the '06 midterms.
So far, not one Democratic elected official has called on Jefferson to resign. But Democratic strategist James Carville, speaking on CNN moments after Jefferson ended his news conference, said of Democratic leaders: "I think that they will deal with this pretty soon."
Jefferson said this afternoon "there are two sides to every story and there are certainly two sides to this story."
A reported shouted out: "If you did not take a $100,000 bribe, why not just say it now?"
Jefferson replied, "If you ask me to get into facts, I just will decline to answer," citing his lawyer's advice.
Jefferson blasted the FBI's search of his congressional office, saying it represented "[an] outrageous intrustion and separation of powers between the executive branch and the congressional branch."
Jefferson said he had retained the services of Robert Trout of Trout and Cacheris.
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