The Volokh Conspiracy
[Jonathan Adler, August 7, 2007 at 1:05pm] Trackbacks
House Probe of Jefferson Suspended:

The Washington Post reports:

The House ethics committee has suspended its investigation into Rep. William J. Jefferson, acceding to requests from federal prosecutors who believe the congressional inquiry could interfere with the criminal case against the Louisiana Democrat, who was indicted this summer on 16 corruption charges.

The six-member subcommittee handling the inquiry decided to hold off because of concerns from the Justice Department that it "might create legal or factual issues that would complicate or impede the criminal prosecution and related law enforcement efforts in this matter," the panel's top lawmakers, Reps. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) and Doc Hastings (R-Wash.), said in a statement.

Related Posts (on one page):

  1. House Probe of Jefferson Suspended:
  2. More on Rep. Jefferson's Papers:
  3. D.C. Circuit Rules for Rep. Jefferson:
Prosecutorial Indiscretion:
Props to Congress for this reasonable accommodation. Given all the tension and acrimony of late between the branches, it's reassuring to see them cooperate without drama.
8.7.2007 2:44pm
bittern (mail):
Go get 'im. I'd like my party cleansed, while the other one is taking a bath.

I don't think either the Dem or Rep congresspeople have the slightest wish to investigate their own guy and are delighted to have federal prosecutors do the deed.
8.7.2007 3:27pm
Dilan Esper (mail) (www):
So I guess you can say they put the investigation in the deep freeze?

Sorry, I had to.
8.7.2007 3:58pm
Harry Eagar (mail):
Too bad Congress was unable to exercise as much self-restraint during the Watergate and Iran-Contra attempted prosecutions.

But in those, the voting members weren't seeing possible indictees when they shaved.
8.7.2007 10:14pm
neurodoc:
Question for experienced prosecutors or defense attorneys: how much time ought it take to put a case like this together, that is if there is a case? (Call me quick to judge before all the evidence is presented and argued, but I do think his devoted constituents will have to find someone else to represent them next term, if not sooner.) Yes, I realize that we can only guess at how it will be before he is indicted, but as an outside observer wonder why it should take as long as it is taking for the prosecution to get a trial date set. So, if you were betting - another 90 days?, 6 months?, a year? Surely it won't be more than a year until the prosecution makes its move, right? Others close to him have copped pleas, they found the money in the freezer, not all that complex a story line, etc.
8.7.2007 11:46pm

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