WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has denied the request for a new trial by a former Louisiana congressman convicted of corruption.
U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III in Alexandria, Va., ruled against a motion by former Rep. William Jefferson on Friday. Jefferson was convicted Aug. 5 on 11 of 16 federal counts for using his influence to broker business deals in Africa after federal agents found cash in his freezer.
A jury ruled Jefferson must forfeit roughly $470,000 in bribery receipts. He later filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation.
In his request, Jefferson argued he should have been allowed to use information about a sexual relationship between a cooperating witness and FBI agent at trial. Ellis says the relationship was irrelevant and inadmissible as evidence at trial.
 
—-Contact The Daily Reveille news staff at [email protected]