Jefferson jurors watch video

• By GERARD SHIELDS
• Advocate Washington bureau
• Published: Jul 8, 2009 - Page: 1A

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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Jurors in the bribery trial of former U.S. Rep. William Jefferson watched video Tuesday of him tossing a bulging tan briefcase with $100,000 he received from an FBI informant into the passenger seat of his car.

Federal prosecutors said the money was meant for Jefferson to bribe the then-vice president of Nigeria. The video showed the informant, Lori Mody, opening up the trunk of her white car and Jefferson reaching into it and pulling the briefcase out.

Jefferson drops the briefcase in a cloth sack before removing it as Mody comments on its intention.

“I hope it is exactly what the vice president needs to work hard for us,” Mody said.

Jefferson dismissed the comment while lifting the money out, which was captured by an FBI camera placed in the car trunk.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Jefferson said.

Another FBI camera placed on Mody showed Jefferson swinging open the door of his black 1990 Lincoln Town Car and tossing the case onto the passenger seat.

The jury heard a recorded telephone conversation from the following day on July 31, 2005, in which Mody tries to prompt Jefferson, asking him if he delivered “the package.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jefferson said.

In a recorded meeting a day later, Mody again asks him if he made the delivery.

“I gave him the African art you gave me,” Jefferson said. “And he was very pleased.”

Two days later, FBI agents raided Jefferson’s New Orleans and Washington homes. Agents said they found $90,000 of the marked money wrapped in aluminum foil and stuffed in food boxes in the freezer of his Washington house.

The 18-year veteran of Congress has pleaded innocent on 16 public corruption charges including bribery, conspiracy, money laundering and racketeering. Federal prosecutors accuse him of using his congressional office and influence to push business projects in Africa in return for payments to himself and family members.