Rep Jefferson asks 4th Circuit to Drop Charges Against him

UPI Attorneys for U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., asked the full 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to consider dropping 14 of 16 criminal charges against him. The lawyers cited constitutional issues as they asked, in effect, that the entire court overrule a unanimous decision by its own three-judge panel, The New Orleans Times-Picayune said. That panel recently rejected the argument that a Virginia grand jury improperly indicted Jefferson on corruption charges because it heard certain testimony about his congressional duties.

Jefferson Trial Expected In First Half Of 2009
From the Frontrunner The Hill (11/25) reports LA2 Rep. William Jefferson's (D) corruption trial, "which was postponed last week beyond its original Dec. 2 start date, may not begin for months." The trial was originally scheduled for Dec. 2, "four days before Louisiana's Dec. 6 general election, in which Jefferson is seeking a 10th term against a crowded field of candidates," including Anh "Joseph" Cao (R), the Green Party's Malik Rahim, Libertarian Party candidate Gregory Kahn and Independent Jerry Jacobs. "The trial is now expected to begin at some point in the first half of 2009."

Jefferson Favored for Re-election Despite Indictment
It would be an understatement to say that controversy-plagued Louisiana Democratic Rep. William J. Jefferson is running for re-election this year under less than optimal circumstances. Yet it is not an exaggeration to say that he is a nearly prohibitive favorite to win his bid for a 10th House term in the weather-delayed Dec. 6 general election in the New Orleans-based 2nd Congressional District.

The 61-year-old Jefferson is awaiting trial on federal bribery and corruption charges. Even before his indictment in June 2007, the House Democratic leadership removed him from the prestigious Ways and Means Committee — prompted by the Justice Department investigation into his activities, which included a highly publicized allegation that Jefferson had foil-wrapped $90,000 in bribe money and stored it in a freezer.

The 16 counts on which Jefferson stands indicted include soliciting bribes, corruption, money laundering, obstruction of justice, wire fraud and racketeering. The case centers on an accusation that he sought and accepted bribes to be paid to a family member in return for his official assistance in promoting business deals in Africa. A status conference for his trial is scheduled for Dec. 16. [MORE]