After all, if every guilty plea or indictment related to Jack Abramoff is indicative of a GOP culture of corruption, as claimed by Democrat leaders, then surely the same can be said about this plea involving accusations of malfeasance against William Jefferson, (D-LA).

A Kentucky businessman pleaded guilty in federal court this morning to giving Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.) more than $400,000 in bribes to promote his high-tech business ventures in Africa.

Vernon L. Jackson, owner of Louisville-based iGate Inc., declined to comment after his appearance in the Washington courtroom of U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III. He pleaded guilty to bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery.

Jackson is the second person to plead guilty in theinquiry of the New Orleans congressman. In January, Brett M. Pfeffer, 37, a former Jefferson aide, pleaded guilty to bribing his ex-boss. Pfeffer worked for a wealthy Northern Virginia woman who invested in Jackson's company, iGate, which was trying to sell Internet and cable television service to Nigeria and Ghana. Pfeffer told a federal judge that Jefferson demanded a stake in the business in exchange for using his influence in Africa to promote iGate's technology.

Jefferson, 58, has not been charged and has denied wrongdoing.

Michael S. Nachmanoff, a federal public defender who is representing Jackson, declined to comment last night, as did Jefferson's press secretary, Melanie Roussell.

As you may recall, Jefferson is the corrupt Democrat who commandeered a rescue craft to remove personal possessions – including materials that could be related to this case – from his home in the days immediately after Hurricane Katrina.

Posted by: Greg at 11:46 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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