A look at the week in Washington from the Times-Picayune/NOLA Washington bureau Could Holder's new policy lead to early release for Jefferson? Attorney General Eric Holder, who is trying to reduce the federal prison population by eliminating mandatory minimums for non-violent drug offenders, also said it might be appropriate to consider expanding compassionate releases for non-violent older inmates who...
A look at the week in Washington from the Times-Picayune/NOLA Washington bureau
Could Holder's new policy lead to early release for Jefferson?
Attorney General Eric Holder, who is trying to reduce the federal prison population by eliminating mandatory minimums for non-violent drug offenders, also said it might be appropriate to consider expanding compassionate releases for non-violent older inmates who have already served an appreciable amount of time.
Under Holder's plan, prosecutors, in appropriate cases, would ask sentencing judges to consider reducing sentences.
That could be good news for former Rep. William Jefferson, D-New Orleans, now 15 months into his 13-year corruption sentence in Beaumont, Tx. Jefferson is 66, and his sentence was the longest ever for a member of Congress - far longer than other members convicted of similar bribery and racketeering charges.
But Jefferson shouldn't start making immediate plans for his release. Holder has said he'd want inmates to serve a good portion of their sentences before being considered for compassionate release. Clearly, 15 months, or even four or five years, probably wouldn't meet that definition.
But seven or eight could be in the ballpark. He's already virtually assured of a 15 percent reduction in his sentenced based on so-called good time - time reduced for not getting in trouble.
Former U.S. Attorney Harry Rosenberg, though, said he doubts Jefferson, who squandered great intellect and legislative skills on shady deals to help businesses win contracts in Africa in return for large payments, is the kind of inmate Holder had in mind for early release.
Is Boente heading back to Virginia?
Dana Boente's days as U.S. Attorney in New Orleans may be coming to an end, perhaps a little sooner than expected.
Neil MacBride, the U.S. Attorney in Virginia's Eastern District - the office that prosecuted former New Orleans Rep. William Jefferson - announced his resignation on Thursday, effective Sept. 13.
Boente had been MacBride's first assistant, until he was named by Attorney General Eric Holder in December to take over for Jim Letten, who resigned after two of his top assistants were caught posting nasty comments about subjects of the office's investigations.
Carl Tobias, the University of Richmond law professor who closely follows the Justice Department appointment process, said President Barack Obama might well name him to replace MacBride. It's also possible Boente would take over the office on an interim basis when MacBride leaves next month.
Obama has already nominated New Orleans Kenneth Polite for the old Letten job. No word, though, when the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on his nomination - the first step to winning Senate confirmation.
Cassidy signs letter some see as a shutdown threat
Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, is one of 80 Republicans who signed a recent letter urging Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to "affirmatively de-fund the implementation and enforcement of ObamaCare" in any spending bills brought to the House floor. Many interpreted the letter as a call to shut down the government - because there's no way Senate Democratic majority or the president would accept a bill that defunds Affordable Care Act.
On Wednesday, Cassidy said he would not allow a government shutdown - if it meant that funding for U.S. troops and their families were endangered. Is he being inconsistent?
Not at all, said Cassidy aides. He doesn't interpret the letter - also signed by Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson; and John Fleming, R-Minden, as a shutdown threat, they said.
Here's what Cassidy told us earlier in the week: "I believe we must defund and repeal Obamacare. I have been a leader on this, voting over 40 times to repeal. The concern is that President Obama will use this (funding battle) as an excuse to slash the military and otherwise stop funding our troops among other concerns. This must be balanced. Let's remember, we got here because President Obama and the Senate forced Obamacare on the people."
Filling up Scalise and Richmond's campaign coffers
Our friends at the Center for Responsive Politics compile lots of data on members of Congress. We looked at the group's compilation of the top contributors to our House members.
Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, netted $7,600 from employees of Bollinger Shipyards; $7,221 from the Gold & Silver Political Action Committee and $5,100 from employees of Gray Insurance. He received $5,000 each from PACs representing AT&T, Chevron Corp., DIRECTV Group, Ernest & Young, Exxon Mobil, Koch Industries, Marathon Petroleum, McMoRan Exploration Co and Valero Energy. He also received individual contributions totaling $5,000 from employees at American Crystal Sugar, Friedkin Cos., and Associated Builders & Contractors.
Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, received $5,000 each from the political action committees of the Airline Pilots Association, American Maritime Officers Entergy Corp., International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, McDonald's Corp., and National Beer Wholesalers Association. He received $5,000 in individual contributions from employees at the Herman, Herman law firm and Metro Disposal.
That's a funny one
Suspect the political folks at the White House got a chuckle from a National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee ad, which among other things, accused Sen. Mary Landrieu,D-La., of praising the "bureaucrat - aka former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar - responsible for the moratorium on deepwater drilling after the 2010 BP oil spill.
As it turns out, some White House folks were quite angry at Landrieu for not only speaking out against the moratorium, but holding up the nomination of an Obama nominee until the moratorium ended. The White House wanted Budget Nominee Jack Lew confirmed quickly and Landrieu's hold, supported by Sen. David Vitter, R-La, made that impossible.
And Landrieu wasn't the only senator to praise Salazar, a former senator, during the confirmation fight. Said Wyoming Republican Sen. John Barrasso: "I know you're going to do a terrific job as the secretary of Interior."