House Dems Strip Jefferson of Committee Seat

The House has voted to remove Representative William Jefferson (D-LA) from the House Ways and Means Committee after Jefferson refused to step down following allegations that he accepted a $100,000 bribe from an undercover officer.

From the Associated Press:

The move came on a voice vote, without debate, and capped an election-year effort by House Democrats to seize the political high ground on the issue of lawmaker ethics.

Jefferson had refused to step aside voluntarily from the powerful House Ways and Means Committee before the corruption probe was completed. The drive to remove him from the committee, led by the Democratic leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record) of California, sparked protests by black lawmakers who said Jefferson was being singled out unfairly.

This move is premature, as Jefferson has yet to be indicted; however, charges of racism seem rather absurd.

Via Stop the ACLU.