May 19, 2009

Supreme Court: no delay in corruption trial for William Jefferson

The Supreme Court has refused to delay the upcoming trial of former Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson (upper photo) on bribery and other charges.

The high court on Monday refused to hear an appeal by Jefferson to throw out the indictment against him. The former Democratic congressman has argued that prosecutors trampled on his constitutional privileges as a lawmaker.

Jefferson was indicted in 2007 on multiple counts, including soliciting bribes and racketeering. Investigators raided Jefferson's home and found $90,000 in cash stuffed in a freezer.

Mr. Jefferson was a Congressman from New Orleans who lost is seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to Anh "Joseph" Cao a little-known Republican attorney of Vietnamese decent (lower photo).

A federal judge has set a June 2 trial date for William Jefferson in Alexandria, Virginia.

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