(2006-05-22) — As the FBI continued to build a bribery case against Rep. William Jefferson, D-LA, sources close to the lawmaker say that the $90,000 of bribe money that agents found in his freezer was there for “safekeeping.”

“He wanted to make sure that that cash didn’t fall into the hands of corrupt politicians who might be tempted to sell their influence,” said one unnamed associate. “When that kind of dough is waved in the face of some of his colleagues, it could overwhelm their natural integrity. So he was taking that money out of circulation to protect the entire Congress from the risk of corruption.”

According to an affidavit, the cash was part of a $100,000 payment made to Rep. Jefferson by an informant wearing a wire as the FBI listened in.

The anonymous source said the Congressman is now concerned that even the FBI may be tainted.

“What’s become of federal law enforcement,” he said, “when our own Justice Department is caught up in trying to bribe honest legislators? The big question now is ‘What did the Attorney General know, and when did he know it?’”

An unnamed FBI spokesman said the cash was found wrapped in aluminum foil inside a number of freezer containers.

Another Jefferson associate explained that, “the Congressman simply sealed up the money to protect it from the culture of corruption. It can grow anywhere, you know.”

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