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NRCC criticizes Jefferson appearance at hearing |
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By Jackie Kucinich
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Posted: 04/10/07 07:59 PM [ET] |
House Republican campaign officials yesterday questioned the Judiciary Committee’s decision to seek Rep. William Jefferson’s (D-La.) testimony on the impact Hurricane Katrina has had on the criminal justice system in New Orleans.
The House hearing, which took place yesterday at Lawless Memorial Chapel at Dillard University in New Orleans, was titled “The Katrina Impact on Crime and the Criminal Justice System in New Orleans” and featured three panels of lawmakers and community leaders, including Jefferson.
The National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) issued a release questioning the wisdom of the choice, making reference to an August FBI raid where $90,000 in cash was found in Jefferson’s freezer.
“This is a chilling example of what House Democrats really meant when they promised to run the ‘most ethical Congress in history,’” said NRCC spokesman Ken Spain. “They ignored the 90,000 reasons as to why this was an appalling idea and still they chose to hold a kangaroo court hearing and make a mockery of the Judiciary Committee’s oversight process.”
Jefferson’s office reacted angrily to the suggestion that the lawmaker be excluded from the hearing.
“This is the dumbest possible statement,” said Jefferson spokeswoman Remi Braden-Cooper. “He hasn’t been charged with anything.”
“Dealing with the horrible crime situation in New Orleans is of the utmost importance to him … he is not going to sit out,” she said.
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