William Jefferson (politician)

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William Jennings Jefferson (born March 14, 1947) is an American former politician from Louisiana whose career ended amid a high-profile corruption scandal and subsequent conviction. A member of the Democratic Party, he served nine terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 to 2009, representing Louisiana’s 2nd congressional district in the greater New Orleans area. He is the state’s first black congressman since the end of Reconstruction. Beginning in 2006, Jefferson became the subject of a federal investigation into bribery and racketeering, with prosecutors alleging he used his office to solicit payments from companies seeking business deals in Africa; the probe drew national attention after agents discovered $90,000 in cash hidden in his home freezer. Jefferson sought re-election in 2008. After his indictment in 2007, he won renomination with 56% of the vote in a runoff election. He was defeated in the general election by Republican Joseph Cao in an upset, 49.54%–46.83%, losing...

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