The House voted to strip Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) of his powerful position on the Ways and Means Committee today. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) instigated the vote after meeting with the Democratic Caucus yesterday. The Democrats voted 99-58 for his removal. In the full House, there was no debate or roll call.

The eight-term House member is the subject of a federal bribery probe. The FBI suspects him of helping a technology company score bids in Nigeria in exchange for money. A former Jefferson aide and a businessman have pled guilty to conspiring to bribe Jefferson. The FBI says they have videotape of Jefferson accepting $100,000 from a government witness; they also found $90,000 in Jefferson’s home freezer.

The Congressional Black Caucus opposed Pelosi’s decision, saying there was no rule that applied to the situation. Jefferson is not under indictment and denies any wrongdoing. Rep. Melvin Watt (D-NC) said earlier that black voters might wonder why this action was taken against a black member of Congress with no rule or precedent to justify it.

"This isn't about proof in a court of law. This is about an ethical standard," Pelosi told reporters after the vote. She wants to show that Democrats confront individual lawbreakers while the Republicans tolerate and profit from a “culture of corruption.” Democrats lost a little high ground over Jefferson, but now they can say they take corruption on either side of the aisle seriously.

A few members of CBC broke ranks and sided with Pelosi, and some privately asked the congressman to step aside. Pelosi has been meeting with the CBC and black media to downplay the racial implications of the vote, but she will still face resentment from black congressmen. Some in congress have suggested that a rule be developed to deal with this kind of situation more easily in the future.