Congressman pleads innocent to bribery

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 8 (UPI) -- Rep. William J. Jefferson, D-La., pleaded innocent Friday to bribery, racketeering and money-laundering charges in Virginia.

U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III ordered Jefferson to surrender his passport pending a January trial and released him on a $100,0000 personal recognizance bond.

Ellis told Jefferson he must get court permission to travel outside Washington or Louisiana.

Jefferson was indicted Monday in relation to 11 alleged bribery schemes involving business ventures in the United States and West Africa, the Washington Post reported.

He faces a maximum sentence of 235 years in prison if convicted of all 16 counts against him.

Jefferson was removed from the House Ways and Means Committee last year. On Monday, he resigned from the House Small Business Committee.