The House Ethics Committee on Tuesday announced it would begin an investigation into the activities of Rep. William Jefferson (D-Louisiana), the congressman who was caught with $90,000 in his freezer after allegedly getting involved in shady African telecom deals. Jefferson on Monday was hit with a federal indictment on 16 counts of corruption, racketeering and bribery. (the feds accuse him of taking more than $500,000.) Jefferson stepped down from his position on the Small Business Committee.
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) also introduced a measure that could expel Jefferson, as scandal has touched off heavy political jostling. Jefferson's indictment has damaged the Democrats appearance as the party that was going to crack down on corruption after 12 years of Republican control and multiple scandals. More from the AP here.
