Prosecutors to court: Get on with Jefferson trial

[March 19, 2010]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- 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.

Jefferson is a Louisiana Democrat who was indicted on bribery charges after agents found $90,000 in his freezer. He has pleaded not guilty and his lawyers argue that his trial should be delayed pending an appeal he filed with the U.S. Supreme Court.

Jefferson argues that the charges are invalid because a grand jury got access to information about his actions as a member of Congress, running afoul of a constitutional clause that shields Congress from executive branch interference.

The nine-term congressman was defeated in the November elections by Republican Anh "Joseph" Cao (cow).

[Associated Press]

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