Jefferson’s Sentence Is a Record-Setter

Beforehanding down the sentence, U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis said: “Thereis no doubt that you have led an extraordinary life and you haveaccomplished a great deal. ... It makes this event all the sadder.”

Ellistold Jefferson that he had “squandered” his gifts. “Public corruptionis a cancer,” he said. “It needs to be surgically removed.”

Federalprosecutor Mark Lytle used stronger language, calling Jefferson’sactions the “most extensive and pervasive pattern of corruption in thehistory of Congress.”

Jeffersonstood at a podium before the judge as the sentence was read, with hishead bowed to the left, but he had no other visible reaction.

Jeffersondeclined to address the court during Friday’s proceedings. Defenseattorney Robert Trout said he advised Jefferson not to speak, notingthat he expects to appeal the case.

Afederal jury found Jefferson guilty in August of 11 criminal charges,including conspiracy to solicit bribes, money laundering, wire fraudand a pattern of racketeering activity.

Ex-Rep.Duke Cunningham (R-Calif.), who pleaded guilty in March 2006 toaccepting more than $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors, aswell as tax evasion and fraud, is serving an eight-year, four-monthsentence in a federal penitentiary in Tucson, Ariz.

Priorto Jefferson’s sentencing, Cunningham had the distinction of receivingthe longest prison term for a former lawmaker. He is scheduled to bereleased in June 2013.

Atleast three other former House Members have also completed their termsof incarceration in federal prisons in the past year or so, includingex-Reps. Jim Traficant (D-Ohio), Bob Ney (R-Ohio) and Frank Ballance(D-N.C.).

Traficant,convicted in 2002 on charges including bribery, fraud and racketeering,served an eight-year prison term that concluded with his release inSeptember.

Ballance,a one-term Member who served in the 108th Congress, completed afour-year prison term in June. Ballance pleaded guilty to charges offraud and money laundering related to more than $300,000 in state fundsthat he steered to a North Carolina nonprofit that he controlled.

Bill Clark/Roll Call

Ex-Rep.William Jefferson, seen Friday entering the federal courthouse inAlexandria, Va., was sentenced to 13 years in prison, the longestsentence ever given to a former Member of Congress. His lawyer said hewill appeal the conviction.
Ney, whopleaded guilty in 2006 to making false statements and conspiracy inconnection with receiving thousands of dollars in gifts, meals andsports tickets from disgraced ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff and hisassociates, received a 30-month sentence, which he completed in August2008.

Incourt documents, Trout cited a litany of other previously incarceratedlawmakers, part of an effort to limit Jefferson’s term to no more than10 years.

Inaddition to those Members recently incarcerated, Trout also identifiedex-Rep. Mel Reynolds (D-Ill.), who served two prison terms, including asentence of 78 months on charges of election fraud and bank fraud.

Troutdid not reference Reynolds’ earlier conviction on charges related tohis sexual relationship with a 16-year-old campaign volunteer, forwhich he served five years.

Thedefense team also cited ex-Rep. Jay Kim (R-Calif.), who pleaded guiltyin 1997 to receiving illegal campaign contributions; ex-Rep. DonaldLukens (R-Ohio), who was convicted of bribery in 1996; ex-Rep. DanRostenkowski (D-Ill.), who pleaded guilty to charges stemming from theHouse Post Office scandal in 1996; ex-Rep. Albert Bustamante (D-Texas),who was convicted in 1993 of racketeering and accepting an illegalgift; and ex-Rep. Patrick Swindall (R-Ga.), who was convicted in 1989on perjury charges for lying to a grand jury investigating a moneylaundering scheme.

Incourt documents filed earlier this month, federal prosecutorsrecommended Jefferson receive a prison term of up to 33 years,asserting his “crimes against the people of the United States wereexceptional in their sheer number, length, and breadth.”

“Whilethe guidelines sentence calculated by the Probation Office is lengthy,it is appropriate, in that Congressman Jefferson’s criminal activitieshave surely caused or substantially added to the loss of publicconfidence and trust in our nation’s highest levels of government,” thegovernment stated.

ButJefferson’s defense objected to those recommendations, arguing that thecourt should “fully explore and consider Mr. Jefferson’s life story,”and not his crimes.

“ButWilliam Jefferson is more than the punchline of a late-night talk showjoke or the one-dimensional character depicted in the prosecution’sarguments. He has done much more in his life than pursue the businessventures described during the trial,” Trout wrote. “And therefore thedefense seeks to acquaint the court with the rest of the picture, withwho William Jefferson is and where he came from.”