Rhino
05-09-2006, 10:06 AM
Rep. Jefferson Loses Bid to Keep FBI Search Warrant Sealed
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. William Jefferson has lost a bid to keep an FBI search warrant application sealed in the federal bribery probe that is targeting the eight-term congressman and has already netted two guilty pleas.
U.S. District Judge William Connelly delayed releasing the document spelling out the details of the government's case against Jefferson, giving him three days to appeal. But in deciding to open the documents Monday, the judge confirmed that a cooperating witness had secretly recorded phone conversations and face-to-face meetings with Jefferson, who until now had been referred to in court documents only as "Representative A."
Jefferson has not been charged and has denied wrongdoing.
The nine-page decision, obtained by The Times-Picayune, also revealed that in addition to investigating whether Jefferson accepted bribes to help a U.S. telecommunications company in Africa, prosecutors also are looking into allegations he bribed a foreign official. The judge's ruling did not provide details of the latter allegation.
On Aug. 3, FBI agents raided the Maryland home of Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the same day agents served search warrants on Jefferson's homes in New Orleans and Washington.........http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,194779,00.html
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. William Jefferson has lost a bid to keep an FBI search warrant application sealed in the federal bribery probe that is targeting the eight-term congressman and has already netted two guilty pleas.
U.S. District Judge William Connelly delayed releasing the document spelling out the details of the government's case against Jefferson, giving him three days to appeal. But in deciding to open the documents Monday, the judge confirmed that a cooperating witness had secretly recorded phone conversations and face-to-face meetings with Jefferson, who until now had been referred to in court documents only as "Representative A."
Jefferson has not been charged and has denied wrongdoing.
The nine-page decision, obtained by The Times-Picayune, also revealed that in addition to investigating whether Jefferson accepted bribes to help a U.S. telecommunications company in Africa, prosecutors also are looking into allegations he bribed a foreign official. The judge's ruling did not provide details of the latter allegation.
On Aug. 3, FBI agents raided the Maryland home of Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the same day agents served search warrants on Jefferson's homes in New Orleans and Washington.........http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,194779,00.html