Six Aides to Rep. Jefferson Subpoenaed in Corruption Probe

Six aides to Louisiana Rep. William Jefferson have been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia investigating corruption charges.  A former aide to the Congressman, Brett Pfeffer, entered a guilty plea to conspiracy and corruption charges in January in which he detailed kickback demands by Rep. Jefferson related to two transactions involving companies seeking contracts in African countries.  Five of the aides work in Jefferson's New Orleans district offices and the sixth is a legislative assistant in his Capitol Hill office.  The subpoenas were not issued recently, but came to light because, as required by House rules, the recipients contacted the House Office of the General Counsel, which disclosed them and found that the aides can testify.  A New Orleans Times-Picayune story (here) notes that Jefferson's spokeswoman stated that the subpoenas were not "new news," but that certainly does not make them into good news. (ph)