Last month U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, (D-New Orleans) was heartily welcomed back onto the House Floor. There was even a show of "bipartisan" support as some Republicans joined in the back slapping.
In case you've forgotten, Jefferson's home was raided in 2005 and officials from the FBI found $90,000 in cash in his freezer. Just days earlier, he was videotaped accepting a $100,000 bribe.
About one week before Jefferson was allowed to come back, his colleagues voted to request the House Ethics Committee (a contradiction in terms) to consider the indictment against him and to make a determination as to whether or not he should be expelled.
I don't know what's worse: the fact that his colleagues had to take a vote to make the request to the ethics committee to hold one of their own accountable or the fact they felt a recommendation was needed as to this guy's fitness for office.
In spite of the 16 count indictment Jefferson faces, he says he's not worried. He's turned all this over to the "Lord" and he has "faith" that he'll beat the rap. One can't help but wonder, given Jefferson's track record, if it's "faith" (whatever that means) or, perhaps, he just knows something the rest of us don't.
Chad Phillips
When he’s sent to prison, someone be sure to tell him “The Lord works in mysterious ways”