"This is an end to a sad chapter in Louisiana's political history. It shows that nobody is above the law and that the legal system works. It also shows the country that we're in a New Louisiana. We've enacted tough, new ethics laws - and public officials are finally being held accountable.
As a member of congress, he broke the public's trust and used his office for personal gain. We need public servants that are there to serve us, not themselves."
-- Gov. Bobby Jindal
"This is a difficult day for the people of New Orleans and Louisiana, but now we can turn the page on a negative past to focus on a positive future. My thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Jefferson and his family during this time."
--Congressman Anh Joseph Cao
"Today's guilty verdict sends another strong message that political corruption will not be tolerated. I commend the Justice Department for sending the message loud and clear that we have established a zero tolerance policy against public corruption, and anybody who crosses that line will go to jail."
--Congressman Steve Scalise
Today's verdict confirms what Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has known to be true all along, former Rep. William Jefferson's conduct was not merely shady, as his attorneys argued, but was downright illegal. Accepting Mr. Jefferson's argument that requiring those who asked him to use his official position to facilitate deals in Africa to cut him in on those deals was not bribery would have left members of Congress free to sell their services to the highest bidder.
The American public has a right to expect members of Congress to focus on the people's interest, not their own interests, while serving in government. Today's verdict reinforces that ideal.
-- CREW
"Nearly four years ago, late night comedians began to joke about the $90,000 seized in Jefferson's freezer and the American public had yet another opportunity to mock politics as usual in Louisiana.
But much has changed in the last four years.
In 2007, Governor Jindal called the legislature into a special session to pass sweeping ethics reforms that vaulted Louisiana from near dead last to the top of the Center for Public Integrity's rankings. Then, just last year, William Jefferson's former constituents replaced him with Joseph Cao, a former ethics professor at Loyola University.
Today's verdict underlines the reality that public corruption is no longer tolerated in Louisiana."
-- Republican Party of Louisiana Chairman Roger F. Villere, Jr.
Stay tuned to ABC26 News at 9 p.m. on NOLA 39 and at 10 p.m. on ABC26 to see what local Political Analyst Jeff Crouere has to say.
As a member of congress, he broke the public's trust and used his office for personal gain. We need public servants that are there to serve us, not themselves."
"This is a difficult day for the people of New Orleans and Louisiana, but now we can turn the page on a negative past to focus on a positive future. My thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Jefferson and his family during this time."
--Congressman Anh Joseph Cao
"Today's guilty verdict sends another strong message that political corruption will not be tolerated. I commend the Justice Department for sending the message loud and clear that we have established a zero tolerance policy against public corruption, and anybody who crosses that line will go to jail."
--Congressman Steve Scalise
Today's verdict confirms what Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has known to be true all along, former Rep. William Jefferson's conduct was not merely shady, as his attorneys argued, but was downright illegal. Accepting Mr. Jefferson's argument that requiring those who asked him to use his official position to facilitate deals in Africa to cut him in on those deals was not bribery would have left members of Congress free to sell their services to the highest bidder.
The American public has a right to expect members of Congress to focus on the people's interest, not their own interests, while serving in government. Today's verdict reinforces that ideal.
-- CREW
"Nearly four years ago, late night comedians began to joke about the $90,000 seized in Jefferson's freezer and the American public had yet another opportunity to mock politics as usual in Louisiana.
But much has changed in the last four years.
In 2007, Governor Jindal called the legislature into a special session to pass sweeping ethics reforms that vaulted Louisiana from near dead last to the top of the Center for Public Integrity's rankings. Then, just last year, William Jefferson's former constituents replaced him with Joseph Cao, a former ethics professor at Loyola University.
Today's verdict underlines the reality that public corruption is no longer tolerated in Louisiana."
-- Republican Party of Louisiana Chairman Roger F. Villere, Jr.
Stay tuned to ABC26 News at 9 p.m. on NOLA 39 and at 10 p.m. on ABC26 to see what local Political Analyst Jeff Crouere has to say.
