Six staffers subpoenaed for Jefferson trial

The Department of Justice has subpoenaed six current and former House aides to testify in next month’s trial of Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.), who faces a wide array of public corruption and bribery charges, according to a knowledgeable source.

{mosads}The current House aides include Paul Arcangeli, a professional staffer on the House Armed Services Committee, and Roberta Hopkins and Stephanie Butler, who work in Jefferson’s office. In addition, the DoJ has subpoenaed three former employees of Jefferson, although the names of those individuals have not been specified, the source said.

The House general counsel’s office is representing all six staffers in the matter.

Jefferson’s trial is set to begin Feb. 25 at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria. The DoJ has accused Jefferson of conducting a massive international bribery, money laundering and racketeering operation that involved promoting business interests in Africa in return for bribes for his family members. The lawmaker maintains his innocence, arguing that it was all private business and did not involve official congressional acts on his part.