Jefferson’s corruption trial comes to a close

The trial of former Rep. William J. Jefferson concluded today as Judge T.S. Ellis III provided the jury with its final instructions.

The twelve jurors will now deliberate and are likely to return a verdict within the next few days.

Jefferson faces up to 287 years in prison if convicted on all 16 counts. Two of the prosecution’s witnesses, Vernon Jackson and Brett Pfeffer, were both sentenced to lengthy prison terms by Ellis for bribery.

Ellis cautioned the jurors about remaining “pristine” during their deliberations.

“A report in the media may emphasize an unimportant part, or it may be plain wrong,” he warned.

In her closing statement yesterday, lead prosecutor Rebeca Bellows emphasized the severity of the charges against Jefferson.

“Bribery corrupts the essential compact between the people and their government,” she said.

Ironically, as the federal jurors noted Judge Ellis’ instructions, Jefferson’s daughters played a game of “hangman” in a notebook. At one point, Jamela Jefferson smiled as she filled in the remaining letters to her word: “PATIENT.”

After a month-and-a-half, over 50 witnesses, and hundreds of evidentiary documents, charts, recordings and videos, one thing struck court onlookers as conspicuously absent: a defense.

Jefferson never took the stand, and his team only called two witnesses. They began their case last Thursday morning and were done by lunchtime. Why did Jefferson remain so mum?

Perhaps it was the power of faith.

As Ellis read aloud his two-and-a-half-hour instructions today, Jefferson’s wife Andrea quietly read a paperback version of “Powers of the Psalms.” The page entitled “Victory in a Court Case” advised the reader to “Take these Psalms of David and write them on a parchment with the names of your adversaries who litigate against you, and carry this talisman in your pocket during the trial.”

–Geoffrey Greene