Cancel These Jeffersons
by Jeff Crouere
 It is really getting old now isn’t it? The embarrassments, scandals,
investigations and convictions surrounding Louisiana's Bill Jefferson and
his political family have reached a crescendo in recent days.
For years, people laughed about Congressman “Dollar Bill” Jefferson and his
apt nickname, but figured it was just part of the local political landscape.
Jefferson’s political organization, the Progressive Democrats, was notorious
for charging huge fees for its political endorsement and then delivering
very little to the endorsed candidate. In some cases, multiple ballots were
distributed, endorsing opposing candidates, each of whom presumably paid for
the organization’s official nod.
In recent months, the bad political acting of Jefferson family members has
reached the attention of federal prosecutors. Of course, the brother-in-law
of Congressman Jefferson, former Judge Alan Green was investigated, indicted
and convicted of mail fraud, as part of the Wrinkled Robe investigation.
Although he was elected to sit on the bench, Green is now sitting in jail,
contributing to the horrible reputation of Louisiana politicians.
Congressman Bill Jefferson is under federal investigation, accused of
bribery in a wide ranging case involving out-of-state businesses, African
nations and $100,000 in cash, of which $90,000 was found in his freezer.
This cold hard cash is not the only evidence against Jefferson, as the
government has audio tapes, video, testimony from two former associates who
have pleaded guilty and a cooperating witness who initially informed the
government of Jefferson’s alleged shakedown methods.
The investigation is still ongoing as a grand jury is requesting e-mails
from prior to the initial August 2005 raid of his home, car and office. This
situation is embarrassing to congressional Democrats who stripped Jefferson
of his most prestigious committee assignment, the Ways and Means Committee.
Although he is an embarrassment to his party, Jefferson is even more of an
embarrassment to his constituents and all the people of Louisiana who are
tainted by another Louisiana politician under investigation.
It is so bad for Jefferson that he has now hired a public relations expert
who specializes in crisis communications. Judy Smith previously represented
Monica Lewinsky, the Bush I administration during the Clarence Thomas
hearing and the Saudi Arabian government after 9/11. Smith will have her
hands full with Jefferson, who is obviously preparing to fight the charges,
spin the investigation to his benefit and bamboozle the voters of the 2nd
congressional district so that they will re-elect him to another term.
In the last few days, two other members of the Jefferson political family
have been dealt legal and public relations blows. Orleans Parish District
Attorney Eddie Jordan, who considers the Congressman a close friend and
mentor, has been in hot water ever since the January 2003 firings of staff
members. Curiously, the vast majority of those fired were white, replaced by
African-Americans. The firings were directed by an aide to Congressman
Jefferson and became the subject of a class action lawsuit. A case was
started and it was ruled that Jordan violated the civil rights of the fired
employees by using skin color as the criteria for the dismissals.
In late June, a federal judge ordered Jordan’s office to pay former
employees $ 3.58 million for damages and civil rights violations. Jordan
will appeal and claims that his office has no money, but the entire case
looks quite bad for the City of New Orleans and the District Attorney’s
office. Jordan has been under fire for years for mishandling the DA’s
office. Currently, 6,000 cases have yet to be prosecuted and his top aide
has been accused by a witness in a case of sexual misconduct.
It’s not a pretty sight in Eddie Jordan’s office, but the troubles of the
Jefferson political family do not end there. There is also the high profile
case of former Councilwoman Renee Gill-Pratt, who was just bounced from
office by the good voters of District B. Gill-Pratt has now come under FBI
investigation for her handling of donated Chrysler vehicles, which were
given to help struggling municipalities in the aftermath of Katrina. Pratt
donated two vehicles to Care Unlimited, a non-profit that she now works for
and two to Orleans Metropolitan Housing, a group led by her “close friend”
Mose Jefferson, brother of “Dollar Bill.” Neither non-profit has a
particularly impressive track record and are unknown in the local non-profit
community. However they are well known in the Louisiana Legislature, where
Bill Jefferson’s daughter Jalila sits.
In this past session, the legislature earmarked $300,000 for Care Unlimited
and $150,000 for Orleans Metropolitan Housing. For what purpose, the voters
don’t know. You see neither group has a website or is listed in the phone
directory. Maybe they are trying to keep quiet and stay under the radar
while Mose Jefferson and Renee Gill-Pratt collect their salaries and drive
their nice new cars. According to the Times-Picayune, in the last 12 years,
at least $5.5 million in public money has been directed to these two groups.
Prior to her tenure o the City Council, Renee Gill-Pratt served in the
legislature and used the infamous urban slush funds to benefit both groups.
In her final days on the council, Pratt couldn’t stop herself; the addiction
to giving was just too strong. In her one her last official acts on the
council, Pratt authorized a $16,071 grant to Orleans Metropolitan Housing
from a Council slush fund. What did the public receive for all of their
unknown beneficence? Very little, although you would think that with $5.5
million, a group could afford a website at least.
Has the public had enough yet? “The Jeffersons” are a political show that
has been playing in the New Orleans area for many years. Although amusing,
the act is getting old and the bad reviews are starting to impact everyone
in the viewing audience quite negatively. It is high time to cancel this
tired sitcom.
Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a
Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 8:30 p.m. Fri.
and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and Noon till 2 p.m.
weekdays on several Louisiana radio stations. For more information, visit
his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com
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