Prosecutors say get on with Jefferson trial

Former Democrat Congressman William Jefferson (pictured) from New Orleans was indicted on bribery charges after agents found $90,000 in his freezer.

Jefferson has pleaded not guilty and his lawyers argue that his trial should be delayed pending his appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Federal prosecutors are urging an appeals court to get on with Rep. William Jefferson's corruption trial, saying his appeal to the Supreme Court does not have enough chance of success to justify further delays.

The 2005 discovery of the money in Jefferson's freezer led to an indictment on charges that he took bribes, laundered money and misused his congressional office for business dealings in Africa. Jefferson has promised there is an "honorable explanation" for the money in the freezer, although he has yet to make it public.

He lost his bid for re-election in December to Republican Anh "Joseph" Cao, who will become the first Vietnamese-American in Congress.

Jefferson faces up to 235 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

Former Congressman Jefferson could well have been the poster boy for corruption in the House of Representatives.

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