The latest twist- Former U.S. Rep. William Jefferson as dupe
by Stephanie Grace - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

Here are two terms you don't often hear in the same sentence: Jefferson and stupid. As in, former U.S. Rep. William Jefferson did something "stupid" when he accepted a briefcase full of FBI marked bills, wrapped most of the money in foil, stuck it in pie crust and veggie burgers boxes and hid it in his freezer. He exercised "awful judgment" too, Jefferson's lead attorney, Robert Trout, told the jury in last week's closing argument at the ex-congressman's public corruption and bribery trial in Virginia. To hear Trout tell it, Jefferson was a dupe, a victim of a young, rich investor who was acting emotionally needy and secretly doing the government's bidding. His client, Trout said, was manipulated into taking the money and telling Mody he would use it to bribe Nigeria's vice president to help the company in which they both had a stake land a major telecom deal. He never, ever intended to actually pay the bribe, Trout argued. No, Jefferson was just trying to make Mody feel better.