Ky. Businessman Pleads Guilty in Bribery

Kentucky businessman, Vernon L. Jackson, chief executive of Louisville-based iGate, leaves U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va., Wednesday, May 3, 2006, after pleading guilty on charges that he bribed Rep. William J. Jefferson, D-La. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) (Caleb Jones - AP)

The congressman continued to promote iGate in 2004, meeting with the Nigerian president and vice president, among others, to promote the company, Lytle said.

The congressman also traveled to Cameroon and Ghana in 2004 and 2005 to meet with government and business officials to promote iGate, documents indicate.

Jackson declined comment after the hearing, but told U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III that "I take full responsibility for what I have done."

Jackson is the second person to plead guilty in connection with the investigation of Jefferson.

Brett Pfeffer, a former legislative director for Jefferson, pleaded guilty in January to aiding and abetting bribery of a public official and conspiracy.

Pfeffer said that a congressman demanded bribes in exchange for his assistance in brokering two African telecommunications deals. Court documents make clear that Jefferson is the accused congressman, without naming him.

Jefferson denied the allegation, saying he has never demanded or accepted anything to perform a service for which he was elected.

Prosecutors said their investigation is ongoing.

"Public corruption significantly undermines confidence in our government institutions," U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg said in a statement. "Those that pay bribes in return for favorable treatment, and public officials who corruptly trade on their office and line their own pockets do so at great risk, because we will pursue these cases relentlessly."