Louisiana Politics News

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The jury in the bribery trial of former U.S. Rep. William Jefferson completed its first full day of deliberations Friday without reaching a verdict.

Jurors were told by the federal judge presiding over the trial to return Monday morning to continue the talks. The only action of the day occurred when the panel sent a note to the judge telling him that they didn’t need a written copy of the jury instructions.

On Thursday, the jury met for four hours and asked U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III if they could have a copy of the 135 pages of instructions. Ellis had given them a recording of the charge.

State officials are looking into a complaint that the Jindal administration is breaking the law by using taxpayer money to publish an Internet blog.

At issue is whether “The Ledger” is purely informational or rises to political commentary.

Legislative Auditor Steve Theriot and Attorney General Buddy Caldwell said they are investigating the blog at the request of state Sen. Robert Adley.

“We’re going to do some due diligence to take a look at it,” Theriot said.

Adley, R-Benton, contends that Gov. Bobby Jindal is using taxpayer money to pay for a political blog. State law prohibits the use of tax dollars for personal political purposes.

Jindal’s Division of Administration, which publishes the blog, counters that the postings are designed to explain the state budget to the public.

Gov. Bobby Jindal is back on the campaign money trail.

Jindal's office says the governor is attending a fundraiser Thursday in Destin, Fla., for his 2011 re-election bid. Jindal also was speaking at a convention for the Louisiana Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors while in Destin, before returning to Baton Rouge.

The campaign fundraiser comes within days since restrictions on Jindal's ability to raise money were lifted.

State law bars the governor from raising campaign cash for his re-election during a legislative session or within 30 days after the session ends. The 2009 regular session ended June 25, so Jindal couldn't resume fundraising until this week.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Jurors in the bribery trial of former U.S. Rep. William Jefferson deliberated for a fourth day Tuesday without a verdict.

U.S. District Court Judge T.S. Ellis III called the prosecutors and defense attorneys into the courtroom about noon after being sent a note from the jury. Ellis did not divulge anything about the note but held a five-minute bench conference with the attorneys. Ellis then recessed for 15 minutes and called the attorneys back for another 15-minute side conference.

Meanwhile, legal scholars monitoring the case said Tuesday that the longer the jury is out, the better it is for Jefferson. That the deliberations have lasted four days is not a surprise given the complexity of the case and its 16 charges, said Carl Tobias, a University of Richmond law professor.