BOURGE: Rogues on the Hill?

'Freezergate' is only the tip of the iceberg

By Christian Bourge | Friday, October 31, 2008

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Being under criminal indictment typically dooms the re-election prospects for congressmen. But elections in Louisiana sometimes function under a different political mindset than much of the country. Consider the case of Democratic Rep. William Jefferson, who is awaiting trial on a 16-count federal indictment on bribery, racketeering and money-laundering charges.

Louisiana's first black congressman since Reconstruction, Mr. Jefferson appears poised for re-election for the second time since allegations of wrongdoing first came to light in 2006 and even as ethics problems are leading to the potential downfall of several other lawmakers this year, mostly Republicans. It is also the first election cycle after the ethical problems that plagued congressional Republicans in 2006 played an immense role in sweeping Democrats into control of Congress after voters threw a number of ethically challenged Republican bums out.

Mr. Jefferson is expected to win a run-off against a white primary challenger on Election Day and he is expected to ultimately coast to re-election in December against a Republican challenger. This after a host of black Democrats split support in the 62 percent black district in an October primary.

Federal prosecutors allege Mr. Jefferson, a nine-term congressman, received more than $500,000 in bribes and demanded millions more, including $90,000 from an FBI informant. The money was found in the freezer of Mr. Jefferson's Washington home. The congressman says he has done nothing improper.

Loyola University political scientist Ed Renwick, considered the dean of New Orleans political analysts, told me that Mr. Jefferson's continued survival can be traced to his years serving the largely Democratic city as mayor and in nine terms as Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District representative. The core 30 percent of mostly black supporters that make up his base is not budging. Because of that, ethics problems are not playing out in Mr. Jefferson's race the same as they might in some.

"He's built a base and he's been able to make a good use of that," said Mr. Renwick. "You [also] don't have race as a decision which is important in these [other congressional] elections." But Mr. Jefferson's indictment is not the only allegation of impropriety. Both the lawmaker and his sister Betty Jefferson were listed Tuesday as unindicted co-conspirators in a 41-count federal money laundering conviction of bond broker Gwendolyn Moyo in New Orleans. The prosecution alleged in the week-long trial that Moyo laundered about $320,000 to groups and organizations controlled by the lawmaker; Betty Jefferson, his sister; her daughter, Angela Coleman; and her brother, Mose Jefferson; who also face other federal indictments.

ABC News also reported in 2005 that, while not illegal, Mr. Jefferson used a National Guard truck and troops to check on his own home during a district tour five days after Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans and when citizens were still being rescued from their ravaged homes.

Mr. Jefferson is just one of around a dozen current Democratic and Republican lawmakers facing allegations of unethical and even illegal conduct. Rep. Alan Mollohan of West Virginia, a Democrat, is reportedly the focus of a federal investigation for allegedly directing millions in earmarks to groups with which he has close ties. He has denied any wrongdoing and is expected to gain re-election.

But several Republican lawmakers are not even running for re-election because they are awaiting prosecution or facing likely indictments - including Reps. Rick Renzi of Arizona, John Doolittle of California and Vito Fossella of New York. (Mr. Fossella was convicted last week on drunken-driving charges in Virginia, which led to the disclosure that he had an out-of-wedlock child with a mistress.)

For some that have tried to run for re-election this year under a cloud of ethics allegations, the current political environment has not been particularly welcoming.

Longtime Republican Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska was convicted Monday on federal charges for failing to report the payment by a supporter of home renovations worth more than $250,000. Up for re-election, he is vowing to stay in the race and fight the verdict but it could be the end to his immense political career (though Stevens was applauded yesterday upon his airport arrival). Republican Rep. Don Young of Alaska is also considered a top candidate to lose his seat because he has reportedly been one subject of a broad federal investigation into corruption the state. He is said to have spent more than $1 million in legal fees on the matter.

In addition, GOP Rep. Tom Feeney of Florida is expected to lose his re-election because of ties to convicted Republican uber-lobbyist Jack Abramoff. His fellow Floridian, Rep. Tim Mahoney, a Democrat, is now expected to loose his seat after it recently came to that he has had multiple affairs, including one with a former aide that he allegedly paid $121,000 to remain quiet on the matter.

So, what makes Mr. Jefferson's re-election bid different? While voter sentiments cannot be ignored, the storied politics of New Orleans is also important. Demographer Gregory C. Rigamer, CEO of New Orleans-based consulting firm CGR & Associates, told me that with a 62 percent black population, Mr. Jefferson's is the only predominate minority district in the state and that one can't ignore the fact that he faces a white challenger for the Democratic nomination. "There is real interest in maintaining this seat by African Americans," Mr. Rigamer said. "I think that is really the issue."

Meanwhile, veteran New Orleans political consultant Bill Rouselle, who backed a Jefferson challenger in this year's primary but has worked for him previously, added that in the minds of many voters the lawmaker has been a good congressman who represented the interests of a district where there is a great deal of distrust of the New Orleans political establishment to deliver equality. "You cannot overlook the well-established fact that people are more interested in what is tried and true rather than untested and what many people don't believe is in their best interests, regardless of his legal problems," Mr. Rouselle told me. "The conventional political thought is that if we are going to have Bill Jefferson around and if he is re-elected and gets convicted, there will be a special election and we will have the opportunity to elect an African American. That is a positive."

Mr. Jefferson's expected beating of national expectations once again brings to mind the words of President James Garfield, who as a House member in 1877 wrote, "Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress."

Christian Bourge writes for Congress Daily and offers analyses on thecapitolhillblues.com.

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