Disgraced lawmaker accused of 2 new schemes

Rep. Jefferson faces charges he got kickbacks for pushing oil, space deals

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updated 11:23 p.m. ET Nov. 17, 2007

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Prosecutors are accusing Rep. William J. Jefferson of Louisiana of soliciting bribes in two suspected schemes that are separate from the bribery charges he already faces, according to a published report.

Prosecutors said no new charges will be filed because of the allegations revealed in the document, filed late Friday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria and obtained by The Washington Post. But they do plan to use the latest allegations as evidence of a pattern of wrongdoing during Jefferson's trial.

The government alleges that in 2002 Jefferson, a Democrat, asked a lobbyist for a U.S. oil services company for payments of $10,000 a month for a family member. In exchange, Jefferson said he would help the company promote business in Africa. The lobbyist turned down the request, according to the document.

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Jefferson later made a deal to urge NASA to do business with a U.S. rocket launch services and technology company, according to the filing. The company is accused of agreeing to pay Jefferson's family business and a relative in exchange for his help.

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Congressman indicted on bribery charges

Previous allegations
A spokeswoman for Jefferson's Washington office declined to comment Saturday night, and a telephone message left for his legal team was not immediately returned.

A federal grand jury indicted Jefferson, 60, in June on charges that he received more than $500,000 in bribes and demanded millions of dollars more between 2000 and 2005.

The indictment spells out 11 separate bribery schemes in which Jefferson used his influence as co-chairman of the congressional Africa Investment and Trade Caucus to broker deals in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and other African nations.