William J. Jefferson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bill Jefferson | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 1991 |
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| Preceded by | Lindy Boggs |
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| Born | March 14, 1947 Lake Providence, Louisiana |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Andrea Jefferson |
| Religion | Baptist |
William Jennings Jefferson (born March 14, 1947) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Louisiana. A Democrat, Jefferson has been a member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 1991. He represents Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, which includes much of the greater New Orleans area. He is Louisiana's first black Congressman since the end of Reconstruction.[1] In May 2006 his Congressional offices were raided, but he was re-elected later that year. On June 4, 2007, a federal grand jury indicted Jefferson on 16 charges related to corruption.[2]
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[edit] Early life and career
Jefferson was born in Lake Providence, a small town in East Carroll Parish in far northeastern Louisiana, where he and his eight brothers and sisters worked alongside their father, who was a sharecropper and a heavy-equipment operator for the Army Corps of Engineers.
Though neither of his parents had graduated from high school, Jefferson received a bachelor's degree from Southern University, where in 1969 he led a protest against substandard campus facilities and negotiated with then-Governor John McKeithen. He later earned a law degree from Harvard University in 1972 and an LLM in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center in 1996. After graduation, he became a law clerk for Judge Alvin B. Rubin of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana from 1972 to 1973, and a lawyer with a private practice. From 1973 to 1975, he was a legislative assistant to U.S. Senator J. Bennett Johnston, Jr., of Louisiana. He moved to New Orleans in 1976 and was elected as a member of the Louisiana Senate in 1980, where he served until 1991. He twice unsuccessfully ran for New Orleans mayor, first challenging Ernest N. Morial in the election of 1982, and then being defeated by Sidney Barthelemy in the mayoral runoff of 1986.[3] In 1990 William Jefferson was elected to the House, becoming the first black member of Congress from Louisiana since Reconstruction. In the House, Jefferson joined the Congressional Black Caucus.[4]
[edit] Local influence
Jefferson and his family control one of the most sophisticated and effective get-out-the-vote organizations in South Louisiana: the Progressive Democrats. In 2002, their support helped elect Jefferson's protégée Renée Gill Pratt as a Councilmember. Jefferson's daughter Jalila failed to succeed Pratt as a Representative to the Louisiana State House. It also contributed to the election of Jefferson's sister Betty as a municipal assessor, in 1998, 2002 and 2006. New Orleans politics has been substantially changed after Hurricane Katrina, with many former votersno longer in the city
A few days after Hurricane Katrina hit, Jefferson utilized a National Guard detachment to recover personal effects and belongings from his home.[5] After the truck in which he and the detachment traveled became stuck, the Guard helicopter aided Jefferson's party while rescue operations where still ongoing.
[edit] Corruption investigation
The investigation began in mid-2005, after an investor alleged $400,000 in bribes were paid through a company maintained in the name of his spouse and children. The money came from a tech company named iGate, Inc. of Louisville, Kentucky, and in return, it is alleged, Jefferson would help iGate's business. Jefferson was to persuade the U.S. Army to test iGate's broadband two-way technology and other iGate products; use his efforts to influence high-ranking officials in Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon; and meet with personnel of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, in order to facilitate potential financing for iGate business deals in those countries.[6]
On 30 July 2005, Jefferson was videotaped by the FBI receiving $100,000 worth of $100 bills in a leather briefcase at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Arlington, Virginia.[7] Jefferson told an investor, Lori Mody, who was wearing a wire, that he would need to give Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar $500,000 "as a motivating factor" to make sure they obtained contracts for iGate and Mody's company in Nigeria.[8]
A few days later, on 3 August 2005, FBI agents raided Jefferson's home in Northeast Washington and, as noted in an 83-page affidavit filed to support a subsequent raid on his Congressional office, "found $90,000 of the cash in the freezer, in $10,000 increments wrapped in aluminum foil and stuffed inside frozen-food containers." Serial numbers found on the currency in the freezer matched serial numbers of funds given by the FBI to their informant.
Late on the night of 20 May 2006, FBI agents executed a search warrant[9] at Jefferson's office in the Rayburn House Office Building. This is "believed to be the first-ever FBI raid on a Congressional office,"[10] raising concerns that it could "set a dangerous precedent that could be used by future administrations to intimidate or harass a supposedly coequal branch of the government."[11] See below.
The affidavit used to support these raids alleged:
- The FBI videotaped Jefferson receiving a stock certificate from Mody for a company set up in Nigeria to promote iGate's technology. Jefferson predicted the deal would generate $200 million annually after five years.
- Jefferson told Mody that he wanted a similar financial stake in the business in Ghana.
- Jefferson sought $10 million in financing from Mody to take over iGate and install "confidants" on the new board. In two payments, Mody wired $89,225 to the ANJ Group LLC, a company controlled by Jefferson's family.
- Jefferson lent $4,800 of the money Mody gave him to an unnamed congressional aide. Another $4,900 was given back to the FBI by one of Jefferson's attorneys.
- The FBI claims it has uncovered "at least seven other schemes in which Jefferson sought things of value in return for his official acts."[12]
[edit] Former aides plead guilty
In January 2006, Brett M. Pfeffer, a former aide to Jefferson, implicated him in a corruption scheme involving an Internet company being set up in Nigeria. Pfeffer was president of an investment company in McLean, Virginia. In return for political support for the deal, Jefferson had legal work directed toward his family's operations. It was also said that a daughter of his was put on retainer of the Virginia investment company to the tune of $5,000 a month. Jefferson also is said to have arranged for his family a 5% to 7% ownership stake in the Nigerian Internet company. Pfeffer pled guilty to charges of aiding and abetting bribery of a public official and conspiracy on 11 January 2006 in a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia.[13] On May 26, he was sentenced to eight years, but was "cooperating in an ongoing probe and may be eligible for a sentence reduction afterward", according to a prosecutor.[14]
On 3 May 2006 Vernon Jackson, 53, CEO of Louisville, Kentucky based iGate Inc., admitted to bribery of a public official and conspiracy to bribe a public official during a plea hearing in U.S. District Court. According to the Associated Press, "court documents make clear that Congressman William Jefferson (Democrat-Louisiana) is the accused congressman, without naming him." Jackson's plea bargain requires his cooperation in the ongoing investigation against the congressman he admits bribing. The total amount of the bribes is between $400,000 and $1 million, according to court documents of the Jackson proceeding.[15] On September 8, Jackson was sentenced to 7 years and 3 months in jail.[16]
[edit] Congressional office raid
The raid of Jefferson's office set off a series of political events. Jefferson immediately challenged the action in federal court. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi issued "a rare joint statement demanding that the FBI return the documents and saying that Jefferson then should cooperate more fully with the investigation."[17] "Many Republicans and Democrats contend that the unprecedented raid on a congressional office was unduly aggressive and may have breached the constitutional separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches of government that are meant to shelter lawmakers from administrative intimidation."[18] Tensions escalated to the point where, according to AP, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, his deputy, Paul McNulty, and possibly FBI Director Robert Mueller "were said to be ready to quit if the Justice Department was asked to return the Jefferson documents...[while the] House was threatening to go after the Justice Department's budget."[19]
On May 25, President Bush stepped in, taking the extraordinary step of "directing the Department of Justice to seal all the materials recovered from Congressman Jefferson's office for the next 45 days and not to allow access to anyone involved in the investigation."[20] Representative James Sensenbrenner, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, began to hold hearings, called "Reckless Justice: Did the Saturday Night Raid of Congress Trample the Constitution?", on the "profoundly disturbing" questions that he said the Justice Department's actions raised.
The FBI, in answering Jefferson's complaint of the raid, attached an FBI agent's affidavit claiming that the raid was necessary because while the FBI was searching his home in August, Jefferson tried to "surreptitiously remove" documents.[21]
An ABC News poll released 1 June 2006 found 86% of Americans supported the FBI's right to search congressional offices when they obtain a warrant.[22]
On July 10, 2006, Chief Judge Thomas F. Hogan for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, ruled the FBI raid on Jefferson's office was legal,[23] rejecting his and the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group of the United States House of Representatives's claim that the search violated the Constitution's Speech or Debate Clause, separation of powers principle and Fourth Amendment. Chief Judge Hogan, in a 28-page ruling, acknowledged that the "facts and questions of law presented here are indeed unprecedented," but wrote that it is "well-established" that a Congressman is "generally bound to the operation of the criminal laws as are ordinary persons," and the Speech or Debate Clause does not "make Members of Congress super-citizens, immune from criminal responsibility.'"[24] Hogan, in his conclusion, wrote:
- "The existing broad protections of the Speech or Debate Clause – absolute immunity from prosecution or suit for legislative acts and freedom from being 'questioned' about those acts (including privilege from the testimonial act of producing documents in response to a subpoena) – satisfy the fundamental purpose of the Clause to protect the independence of the legislature. The Court declines to extend those protections further, holding that the Speech or Debate Clause does not shield Members of Congress from the execution of valid search warrants. Congressman Jefferson's interpretation of the Speech or Debate privilege would have the effect of converting every congressional office into a taxpayer-subsidized sanctuary for crime. Such a result is not supported by the Constitution or judicial precedent and will not be adopted here. See Williamson v. United States, 28 S. Ct. at 167 ('[T]he laws of this country allow no place or employment as a sanctuary for crime.') (quotation omitted).[25]
However, later that same month, a three-judge appellate panel unanimously overruled Hogan's decision and affirmed that the Department of Justice could not review Rep. Jefferson's files until he had seen what files were taken and which of those pertained to his work as a legislator. The appellate court directed that Hogan, the judge who originally authorized the controversial search and seizure, should determine if Jefferson's claims of legislative privilege extend to specific seized files that the lawmaker may cite.[26] On March 31, 2008, the United States Supreme Court denied further review.[27]
[edit] Stripped of committee membership
On May 24, 2006, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi publicly requested Jefferson's immediate resignation from the House Ways and Means Committee, but he declined to step down.[28] Although Mel Watt, then chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, declared the strong support of the caucus for Jefferson it has since been reported that two prominent members of the caucus, John Lewis (D-GA) and Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) have played a major role in the campaign to force Jefferson to step down.[29]
On 15 June 2006, House Democrats voted to strip Jefferson of his committee assignment while the federal bribery investigation continued. The vote passed 99-58. Some have reported that the vote was passed as a result of Democrats who were determined to make an election-year point about ethics. The full House, which is the only group with the power to actually remove Jefferson, then stripped him of his seat on the committee on June 16 in a voice vote without debate. Jefferson had offered to step aside temporarily if the Democratic caucus established a rule concerning cases like his and if his seat went to Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA). This offer was rejected by House Democratic leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi.[30]
[edit] 2006 Election
Eight Democrats, three Republicans and one Libertarian candidate ran against him.[31]
A significant number of the district’s voters were still scattered across the United States as a result of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
None of the candidates obtained more than 50% of the vote on the first ballot (November 7, 2006) and, therefore, a second ballot was necessary. The two candidates who survived the first ballot were both black Democrats: Jefferson, who got 30% of the vote, and State Representative Karen Carter, who enjoyed support from the Louisiana Democratic Party’s establishment, picked up nearly all endorsements from local politicians and the local press and gathered 22% of the vote.[32]
Political commentators predicted an easy victory for Carter on the second ballot (to be held on December 9, 2006).[33] In the last week of campaign however, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee, a law and order Democrat, urged voters not to vote for Carter. In response to Carter's criticism of Gretna police officers and Jefferson Parish deputies, who blocked the Crescent City Connection and prevented evacuees from fleeing New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina, Lee mailed out 25,000 flyers and made public statements attacking Carter.[34]
Voter turnout dwindled from 24.15% to 16.25%. While residents of the city of New Orleans gave Jefferson a slight majority over Carter, (51% to 49%), the Jefferson Parish share of the district voted for Jefferson by a staggering 71% to 29%, clearly swinging the election in his favor.
Following Jefferson's reelection, Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi announced that he will not regain his seat on the Ways and Means Committee as long as he is not "cleared of wrongdoing in an ongoing federal corruption probe".[35]
On June 8, 2007, Jefferson pled not guilty to the indictment. After the hearing, Jefferson said, "I am absolutely innocent of the charges that have been leveled against me. I'm going to fight my heart out to clear my name." He further explained, "The $90,000 was the FBI's money. The FBI gave it to me as part of its plan — part of their plan — that I would give it to the Nigerian vice president, but I did not do that. When all the facts are understood, I trust that I will be vindicated."[36]
[edit] Electoral history
Mayor of New Orleans, 1982
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, February 6, 1982
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Ernest Morial | Democratic | 75,929 (47%) | Runoff |
| Ron Faucheux | Democratic | 73,441 (45%) | Runoff |
| Bill Jefferson | Democratic | 11,327 (7%) | Defeated |
| Others | n.a. | 1,164 (1%) | Defeated |
Second Ballot, March 20, 1982
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Ernest Morial | Democratic | 100,703 (53%) | Elected |
| Ron Faucheux | Democratic | 88,583 (47%) | Defeated |
Mayor of New Orleans, 1986
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, February 1, 1986
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Bill Jefferson | Democratic | 62,333 (39%) | Runoff |
| Sidney Barthelemy | Democratic | 53,961 (33%) | Runoff |
| Sam LeBlanc | Democratic | 40,963 (25%) | Defeated |
| Others | n.a. | 4,372 (3%) | Defeated |
Second Ballot, March 1, 1986
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Sidney Barthelemy | Democratic | 93,050 (58%) | Elected |
| Bill Jefferson | Democratic | 67,680 (42%) | Defeated |
State Senator, 1987
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, October 24, 1987
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Bill Jefferson | Democratic | No Opponents | Elected |
U. S. Representative, 2nd Congressional District, 1990
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, October 6, 1990
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Bill Jefferson | Democratic | 32,237 (24%) | Runoff |
| Marc Morial | Democratic | 29,366 (22%) | Runoff |
| Jon Johnson | Democratic | 25,468 (19%) | Defeated |
| Woody Koppel | Democratic | 24,175 (18%) | Defeated |
| Others | n.a. | 20,800 (17%) | Defeated |
Second Ballot, November 6, 1990
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Bill Jefferson | Democratic | 55,239 (52%) | Elected |
| Marc Morial | Democratic | 50,232 (48%) | Defeated |
U. S. Representative, 2nd Congressional District, 1992
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, October 3, 1992
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Bill Jefferson | Democratic | 67,030 (73%) | Elected |
| Wilma Knox Irvin | Democratic | 14,121 (15%) | Defeated |
| Roger Johnson | Independent | 10,090 (11%) | Defeated |
U. S. Representative, 2nd Congressional District, 1994
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, October 1, 1994
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Bill Jefferson | Democratic | 60,906 (78%) | Elected |
| Bob Namer | Republican | 15,113 (19%) | Defeated |
| Others | n.a. | 5,549 (3%) | Defeated |
U. S. Representative, 2nd Congressional District, 1996
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, September 21, 1996
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Bill Jefferson | Democratic | No Opponents | Elected |
U. S. Representative, 2nd Congressional District, 1998
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, November 3, 1998
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Bill Jefferson | Democratic | 102,247 (78%) | Elected |
| David Reed | Democratic | 10,803 (9%) | Defeated |
| Don-Terry Veal | Democratic | 5,899 (5%) | Defeated |
Governor of Louisiana, 1999
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, October 23, 1999
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Mike Foster | Republican | 805,203 (62%) | Elected |
| Bill Jefferson | Democratic | 382,445 (30%) | Defeated |
| Others | n.a. | 107,557 (8%) | Defeated |
U. S. Representative, 2nd Congressional District, 2000
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, November 7, 2000
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Bill Jefferson | Democratic | No Opponents | Elected |
U. S. Representative, 2nd Congressional District, 2002
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, November 5, 2002
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Bill Jefferson | Democratic | 90,310 (64%) | Elected |
| Irma Muse Dixon | Democratic | 28,480 (20%) | Defeated |
| Silky Sullivan | Republican | 15,440 (11%) | Defeated |
| Others | n.a. | 7,926 (5%) | Defeated |
U. S. Representative, 2nd Congressional District, 2004
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, November 2, 2004
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Bill Jefferson | Democratic | 173,510 (79%) | Elected |
| Art Schwertz | Republican | 46,097 (21%) | Defeated |
U. S. Representative, 2nd Congressional District, 2006
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, November 7, 2006
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Bill Jefferson | Democratic | 27,706 (30%) | Runoff |
| Karen Carter | Democratic | 19,972 (22%) | Runoff |
| Derrick Shepherd | Democratic | 16,621 (18%) | Defeated |
| Joe Lavigne | Republican | 12,405 (13%) | Defeated |
| Troy Carter | Democratic | 11,052 (12%) | Defeated |
| Others | n.a. | 4,661 (5%) | Defeated |
Second Ballot, December 9, 2006
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Bill Jefferson | Democratic | 35,153 (57%) | Elected |
| Karen Carter | Democratic | 27,011 (43%) | Defeated |
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Murray, Shailagh and Lengel, Allan. "The Legal Woes Of Rep. Jefferson", Washington Post, 2006-02-16, p. A01. Retrieved on 2007-02-07.
- ^ Johnston, David and Zeleny, Jeff. "Congressman Sought Bribes, Indictment Says", The New York Times, 2007-06-05. Retrieved on 2007-06-05.
- ^ Grady, Bill. "Mayor's runoff: one goal, two contenders." The New Orleans Times-Picayune, February 23, 1986.
- ^ bioguide.congress.gov JEFFERSON, William Jennings, (1947 - ). Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2007-02-07.
- ^ Tapper, Jake. "Amid Katrina Chaos, Congressman Used National Guard to Visit Home", ABC News, 2005-09-13. Retrieved on 2006-02-07.
- ^ Federal Bureau of Investigation (2006-05-03). "FBI.Gov BUSINESSMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO PAYING BRIBES TO U.S. CONGRESSMAN". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-02-06.
- ^ Barakat, Matthew. "Filing: Tape Shows Lawmaker Taking Money", Associated Press, 2006-05-21. Retrieved on 2007-02-07.
- ^ Lengel, Allan. "FBI Says Jefferson Was Filmed Taking Cash", Washington Post, 2006-05-21, p. A01. Retrieved on 2007-02-07.
- ^ Affadavit and search warrant (1.25MB PDF)
- ^ Bresnahan, John. "FBI Raid Angers Some on Hill; Feds Probe Additional Jefferson ‘Schemes’", RollCall, 2006-05-21. Retrieved on 2007-02-06.
- ^ Hulse, Carl. "F.B.I. Raid Divides G.O.P. Lawmakers and White House", New York Times, 2006-05-24, p. A01. Retrieved on 2007-02-07.
- ^ nola.com
- ^ Ana Radelat, Gannett News Service, "Former congressional aide pleads guilty to bribery", 1/11/2006. Retrieved Dec. 9, 2006.
- ^ Barakat, Matthew. "Ex-Jefferson aide gets 8 years in bribery scheme", AP, May 26, 2006.
- ^ FBI, "BUSINESSMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO PAYING BRIBES TO U.S. CONGRESSMAN", May 3, 2006. Retrieved Dec. 9, 2006.
- ^ Courier-Journal, "Broken link". Accessed Dec. 9, 2006.
- ^ "Bush orders documents seized in Capitol Hill search sealed", CNN
- ^ Shailagh Murray and Allan Lengel, Washington Post, May 25, 2006
- ^ Reichman, Deb. "Threats Led Bush to Intervene in FBI Fight", AP, May 29, 2006.
- ^ "Text of Bush's order to seal materials"
- ^ Justice Prosecutor's Response to Jefferson Request (2006). Retrieved on 2006-05-31.
- ^ Poll: Americans Support Searches; Public Sides With FBI in Congress Search Issue (2006). Retrieved on 2006-06-05.
- ^ Judge rules FBI raid on Hill office legal — Jerry Seper and Christina Bellantoni, Washington Times, July 11, 2006
- ^ IN RE: SEARCH OF THE RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING ROOM NUMBER 2113 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20515 (2006). Retrieved on 2006-07-10., citing United States v. Brewster, 408 U.S. 501, 516.
- ^ IN RE: SEARCH OF THE RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING ROOM NUMBER 2113 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20515 (2006). Retrieved on 2006-07-10.
- ^ Shenon, Philip. "Lawmaker Wins Delay On Review Of Evidence", New York Times, 2006-07-29, p. A10. Retrieved on 2007-02-07.
- ^ Mears, Bill. "Supreme Court rejects appeal in seizure of lawmaker's papers", CNN, 2008-03-31. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
- ^ chron.com article.
- ^ Edney, Hazel Trice. "Some CBC Members Secretly Trying to Oust Jefferson from Committee Post", Milwaukee Courier, 2006-06-13. Retrieved on 2007-02-07.
- ^ MSNBC, "House lawmakers strip Jefferson of panel seat", June 16, 2006. Retrieved Dec. 9, 2006.
- ^ Phillips, Lauren. "Bribery Claims Fail to Keep Jefferson from Filing in La. 2", CQPolitics.com, August 9, 2006.
- ^ "Democratic Party in La. Backs Rival Of Jefferson", Associated Press, October 15, 2006.
- ^ "Jefferson's Dilemma", Gambit Weekly, November 21, 2006.
- ^ "Harry Lee: Say No to Karen Carter", WWL-TV New Orleans, December 4, 2006.
- ^ "Jefferson still off crucial committee", Times-Picayune, December 13, 2006.
- ^ "La. congressman pleads not guilty to bribery", Boston Globe, June 9, 2007.
[edit] External links
- U.S. Congressman William Jefferson, House site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- SourceWatch Congresspedia — William Jefferson profile
- Beyond Delay — Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
- Motion by William Jefferson to Return Property Seized by FBI from His Congressional Office
- Justice Prosecutor's Response to Jefferson Request
- Jefferson Indictment, June 4, 2007, U.S. v. Jefferson, District Court for Eastern District of Virginia
| Preceded by Frederick Eagan |
Louisiana State Senator (Orleans Parish) 1980–1990 |
Succeeded by Diana Bajoie |
| Preceded by Lindy Boggs |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 2nd congressional district January 3, 1991 – present |
Incumbent |
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| Senators | Mary Landrieu (D), David Vitter (R) |
| Representative(s) | Vacant, William J. Jefferson (D), Charles Melancon (D), Jim McCrery (R), Rodney Alexander (R), Vacant, Charles Boustany (R) |
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