The lawmaker in indictment is Billy Tauzin

Former Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.) is the unnamed lawmaker mentioned in the Department of Justice’s indictment of Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.), according to a document obtained by The Hill.

Jefferson was indicted last week by the Justice Department for allegedly soliciting bribes in order to wield influence on several companies’ behalf, including iGate Inc., a Louisville, Ky., telecommunications company. As part of his suspected influence-peddling, Jefferson convinced a previously unnamed lawmaker to write an October 2002 letter to iGate’s chief executive, Vernon Jackson, and tout his company’s technology.

Tauzin is the member referenced in Jefferson’s indictment. A copy of his letter to iGate was obtained by The Hill. 

“To the best of my knowledge, this letter has nothing to do with the investigation. He is not a target,” said Ken Johnson, a former spokesman for Tauzin’s old panel, the House Energy and Commerce Committee. “Jefferson did ask for it, but it was principally a staff-driven letter.”

{mosads}A long-time aide to Tauzin, Johnson now works with the former lawmaker at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

Tauzin is the trade group’s president and CEO while Johnson is a senior vice president.

“To the best of my knowledge, he talked to the FBI only once,” said Johnson.

The Justice Department, Jackson’s lawyer, Michael Nachmanoff, and representatives for Jefferson declined to comment for this article.

The so-called mystery lawmaker, according to the charging document’s limited description, was a member of the House of Representatives who was “a prominent member of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection.” Johnson confirmed Tauzin was an “ex officio” member of that subcommittee since he was also chairman of its full committee at the time.   

Tauzin possessed substantial clout on Capitol Hill; his signature on a letter praising iGate was significant for the influence it could wield. Before departing Capitol Hill after the 2004 elections, Tauzin spent roughly 25 years in the House — 15 of those as a Democrat. The former congressman led the powerful Energy and Commerce panel for his last two terms.
“As a favor to our colleague, Billy had someone from our staff look at the technology,” said Johnson. “Billy was very interested in whether this technology could help underserved areas such as southern Louisiana.”

Dated Oct. 22, 2002, Tauzin’s letter was written on his congressional letterhead and addressed personally to the iGate CEO, starting, “Dear Vernon.”  

Jackson pleaded guilty to bribery of Jefferson, spending roughly $400,000, and was sentenced to seven years in prison in September 2006.

“Following our meeting several months ago, Howard Waltzman of the Energy and Commerce Committee was assigned to examine iGate’s broadband technology, and the claims made by you and your staff regarding the technology’s viability,” opens the letter.  

According to Jefferson’s indictment, he introduced Jackson to Tauzin in June 2002 to garner his “support for iGate’s technology.”

Waltzman was then the telecommunications counsel for the committee. The aide met iGate executives at their Washington office and visited the U.S. Army installation in Ft. Stewart, Ga., “where iGate provides Internet access to several buildings,” according to the letter.

After leaving the committee, Waltzman joined the Washington office of law firm Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw this year. The attorney declined to comment for this article.

Tauzin’s letter was highly complimentary of iGate’s technology. The Louisianan congressman’s aide was “impressed with the transmission speeds that your technology achieved, and especially the fact that it was actually working in the field under difficult conditions,” according to the letter.

Tauzin was referring to iGate’s use of copper wires to provide broadband Internet access. Per court documents, Jefferson tried to secure business for the Kentucky company throughout Africa utilizing the technology.

“I hope iGate continues to have success with its technology,” finished Tauzin’s letter.

“I remember sitting in on a meeting and thinking that this was a pretty cool technology if it worked,” said Johnson.
The choice by federal prosecutors not to name Tauzin in Jefferson’s indictment suggests that he is not a target of their investigation.

“You can be part of an overt act of a conspiracy, but not part of the conspiracy itself,” said Roscoe Howard, a former U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, when asked about the practice of not identifying individuals in charging documents.

“What you are trying to do is give that someone some privacy,” said Howard, who is now a partner at Troutman Sanders. “You don’t identify someone.

“Prosecutors don’t want to do that to a member of Congress, or frankly any member of the public.”

Last Friday, Jefferson pleaded not guilty to the Justice Department’s charges.  

Jefferson said he would fight his “heart out to clear his name.”

With the trial date set for Jan. 16, 2008 by U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III, prosecutors and defenders have a long time to prepare for the complex case. Charged with 16 counts for soliciting bribes from 11 separate companies, Jefferson could face 235 years in prison.

Asked when formally unidentified individuals in the case — such as Tauzin — might go public, Howard answered: “First time you to get to meet them is at the trial.”

Johnson said he does not think Tauzin will be asked to testify.

“In my opinion, I don’t see it happening because this was pretty much a non-event. We did not twist any arms. We did not ask any favors,” said Johnson.