Jefferson role in telecom argued

• By GERARD SHIELDS
• Advocate Washington bureau
• Published: Jun 27, 2009 - Page: 8A

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WASHINGTON — Government prosecutors spent Friday trying to convince a jury in the bribery case of former U.S. Rep. William Jefferson that he acted in his official capacity as a congressman while promoting an American telecommunications company in Africa.

Jefferson’s attorneys have said his role was as a private businessman when he went to the country to support iGate, a Kentucky company that eventually became a partner with a Nigerian counterpart.

Howard Waltzman, a former staff member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said that Jefferson called him to get a meeting for iGate with committee chairman, former U.S. Rep. Billy Tauzin. Waltzman said he considered Jefferson acting as a congressman when requesting the 2002 meeting, which was not uncommon.

The New Orleans Democrat met with his Chackbay Republican colleague, who eventually wrote a letter endorsing iGate’s unique technology to transmit audio, video and data over copper wire. A company run by Jefferson’s wife had a consulting contract at the time with iGate to receive $7,500 a month and up to 7 percent of company profits.

Waltzman, who handled telecommunications for the committee, told the jury that he would’ve halted any support for iGate if he had known about the pact between the company and Jefferson’s wife.

“That would’ve put an absolute stop on anything I asked the chairman to do on behalf of iGate,” Waltzman said.

Jefferson has pleaded innocent to 16 public corruption charges including bribery, conspiracy, money laundering and racketeering. Prosecutors allege that he used his congressional office and clout to promote American business projects in Africa in return for payments to himself and members of his family.

Paul Arcangelli, a staffer on the House Armed Services Committee, said he had a 2004 meeting with iGate officials on behalf of Jefferson in a House conference room. Arcangelli said Jefferson’s status as a congressman played a role in his decision to meet with iGate officials.

“He is a member of Congress, and we work for Congress,” Arcangelli said.

He too told the jury that had he known about the iGate employment of Jefferson’s wife, Andrea, he would have alerted his bosses.“I wouldn’t have taken the meeting, and I would have gone to my chairman,” Waltzman said.

The jury also heard from U.S. Army Col. Joseph Brown, who testified that he was in a 2001 meeting in Jefferson’s congressional office to report on the status of iGate getting contracts with the Army. Brown considered the meeting a congressional inquiry, he said.

“From my perspective, the congressman was acting in his official capacity,” Brown said.

Brown said he had worked with about 150 vendors in his Army career, but never had an inquiry from a congressman.