Authorities recently announced a long expected indictment of current Louisiana congressman, William Jefferson. You may recall Jefferson as the individual who, post Katrina, was caught with nearly $100,000 wrapped in tinfoil in his freezer.

Now, knowing Louisiana as I do, I would expect that most politicians have upwards of five figures socked away somewhere in small bills...

What made Jefferson's nest egg particularly notable, was its apparent origins as bribe money relating to Nigerian telecom deals and presidential candidates. The subsequent investigation of Jefferson included a controversial search of Jefferson's congressional offices and the political balance-of-power power squabbling that ensued has remained at a low simmer for months now.

Fueling the Jefferson indictment is evidence from two former associates - Brett Pfeffer, a former congressional aide and Vernon Jackson a telecom exec. Pheffer and Vernon Jackson allegedly funnelled approximately $1million to Jefferson to secure his support for various deals amongst African businessmen and politicians.

Pfeffer and Jackson both struck deals with prosecutors in exchange for dirt on Jefferson, who, as you might imagine, continues to protest his innocence, despite .

-- MDT

Labels: bribery, corruption, indictment, Nigeria, William Jefferson