Keep On Truckin'

Did you hear the one about Congressman William Jefferson (D-LA), who manipulated usage of a 5-ton military truck and six National Guard MPs to check his own house after the hurricane?

Jefferson personally rescued a laptop computer, three suitcases, and a box about the size of a small refrigerator from his home, which the enlisted men loaded up into the truck.

"I don't think there is any explanation for an elected official using resources for their own personal use, when those resources should be doing search and rescue, or helping with law enforcement," said Jerry Hauer, a homeland security expert.

That big truck got stuck in the mud. Signals were sent out to Coast Guard helicopters but, for some mysterious reason, Jefferson declined to be rescued by the Coast Guard.

"The Louisiana National Guard then sent a second 5-ton truck to rescue the first truck and Jefferson and his personal items were returned to the Superdome."

Get this -- "Authorities recently searched Jefferson's property as part of a federal investigation into the finances of a high-tech firm. Last month FBI officials raided Jefferson's house as well as his home in Washington, D.C., his car and his accountant's house."

"Last week, Jefferson set up a special trust fund for contributions to his legal defense in light of the FBI investigation."

An old saying comes to mind: Even before Katrina hit, half of Louisiana was underwater and the other half was under indictment.

--LynZee