Ex-Rep. Jefferson Sentenced to 13 Years

A federal judge sentenced former Congressman William Jefferson to 13 years in prison today, less than the 27-plus years prosecutors called for but more than the 10-year term the Louisiana Democrat's lawyer wanted. Jefferson, who was convicted in August of 11 of the 16 counts relating to the public corruption case against him, has already said he will appeal.

The case captured national attention after investigators recovered $90,000 in cash Jefferson had stashed in his freezer. The judge who sentenced him made it clear that he didn't buy the argument that Jefferson's actions were unrelated to his office, the Times-Picayune reports, calling his behavior "a cancer on the body politic."
(More William Jefferson stories.)