Former Democratic Congressman William Jefferson, convicted on bribery and racketeering charges and sentenced to a Congressional-record 13-year sentence, recently received a couple of significant holiday-season gifts from Judge T.J. Ellis III.

Recently, Judge Ellis decided that Jefferson is not a flight risk and may remain free pending appeal, a process that may take a year or more. During that time, Jefferson must wear a monitor and may not travel without prior court approval.

Today, Judge Ellis agreed that Jefferson’s legal expenses will be covered by the court during his appeal. Jefferson and his wife recently filed for bankruptcy, due in large part to the legal bills incurred during his trial.

Admittedly, Jefferson might have problems paying for new legal bills out of his Congressional pension, estimated to be $40,000 to $55,000 per year. Then again, once he’s incarcerated, he won’t be shelling out a lot on food, clothing or shelter.

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Friday night, prosecutors in the case of The United States v. William Jefferson (D-LA) issued a memorandum recommending a prison sentence of 27 to 33 years for the former congressman from New Orleans, consistent with Federal sentencing guidelines. Such a long sentence is justified, according to the memo, by the severity of the crimes, flight risk, and the possibility of hidden assets.

Anything approaching the recommended punishment would be the longest sentence ever meted out on given to a U.S. Congressman.

Jefferson will be sentenced on November 13 by Federal Judge T.S. Ellis III in Alexandria, VA.

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Former Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA), recently convicted on 11 counts of bribery and racketeering, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

In his preliminary filing, William and Andrea Jefferson state liabilities in the range of $1 million to $10 million, against declared assets in the same broad range. Most of the debt would appear to be consumer-type debt: credit cards and car loans. Several New Orleans area banks are listed among the creditors. Another noteworthy creditor is the Congressional Federal Credit Union.

Absent from the creditors’ list are the IRS and the State of Louisiana.

A more detailed filing will be required in a few days. Jefferson will be represented in the matter by his daughter, Jalila Jefferson-Bullock.

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From the diaries by Erick.

Just a reminder: the Defendant in this case was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2008. The “honorable explanation” that he has promised since the $90,000 showed up in his freezer in 2005 turns out to be, “I didn’t take that money with the intention of bribing anyone. I took it with the intention of keeping it myself.”

From the Times-Picayune:

William Jefferson corruption case marks a legal first

ALEXANDRIA, VA. — Former U.S. Rep. William Jefferson [D-LA] is the first and only U.S. public official to be charged under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act since it was enacted in 1977.

Thanks, Congressman, for bringing that proud distinction to Louisiana!

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