Jefferson taking heat for personal use of government resources
By ELLEN TANDY
etandy@wbrz.com
2theadvocate.com staff
New Orleans Congressman William Jefferson (D) is taking some heat for using government resources for his personal purposes during the recovery and rescue efforts after Hurricane Katrina.
Military sources say that Jefferson used a National Guard escort to retrieve personal belongings from his flooded home, and when the large vehicle became stuck on his front lawn, the escorts motioned to a helicopter rescue crew flying overhead. On seeing the commotion on the ground, the crew thought Jefferson was trapped in his home and attempted to retrieve him from the house by lowering a diver to the congressman's second-story balcony.
Jefferson is being criticized for his actions, not only for the use of government resources, but also because there were still many people on their rooftops in need of rescue -- people who could have been saved while the crew was focused on the congressman. Jefferson maintains that he did nothing wrong.
"I did not seek the use of military assets," Jefferson said. "There was shooting going on. They felt I needed to be secured with military guards." The helicopter crew eventually left without the congressman when another National Guard truck came to aid the first vehicle.
By ELLEN TANDY
etandy@wbrz.com
2theadvocate.com staff
New Orleans Congressman William Jefferson (D) is taking some heat for using government resources for his personal purposes during the recovery and rescue efforts after Hurricane Katrina.
Military sources say that Jefferson used a National Guard escort to retrieve personal belongings from his flooded home, and when the large vehicle became stuck on his front lawn, the escorts motioned to a helicopter rescue crew flying overhead. On seeing the commotion on the ground, the crew thought Jefferson was trapped in his home and attempted to retrieve him from the house by lowering a diver to the congressman's second-story balcony.
Jefferson is being criticized for his actions, not only for the use of government resources, but also because there were still many people on their rooftops in need of rescue -- people who could have been saved while the crew was focused on the congressman. Jefferson maintains that he did nothing wrong.
"I did not seek the use of military assets," Jefferson said. "There was shooting going on. They felt I needed to be secured with military guards." The helicopter crew eventually left without the congressman when another National Guard truck came to aid the first vehicle.
