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Convicted Gangster Ex-Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) & ACORN Go Way Back

By Matthew Vadum on 8.10.09 @ 5:17PM

Birds of a feather flock together.

Let the record reflect that convicted gangster William Jefferson, a Democrat who used to represent New Orleans in the U.S. House of Representatives, has (or had might be a better word) ties to the radical activist group ACORN.

ACORN and Jefferson weren't exactly bosom buddies, but they did work together.

I call Jefferson a gangster, by the way, because last week he was convicted of racketeering.

ACORN helped get Jefferson elected years ago.

SEIU gave Jefferson's campaign $5,000 in the 2000 election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Two of SEIU's locals are part of the ACORN network. Local 100 covers Louisiana. Its chief organizer is disgraced ACORN founder Wade Rathke who remains at large despite his role in covering up his brother's nearly $1 million embezzlement for eight years.

Jefferson received ACORN's Friends of the Poor award from its Louisiana chapter. (Times-Picayune, Jan. 28, 1996)

Jefferson participated in an ACORN rally protesting proposed federal budget cuts. (Times-Picayune, April 12, 1995)

Jefferson doesn't appear to have had close ties to ACORN in recent years, though. Perhaps one day in the not-too-distant future we'll find out why.