Jefferson trial delayed until next year

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- The corruption trial of U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., will likely be delayed until 2009, court documents show.

The new docket for U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III revealed a hearing in the case has been set for Dec. 19, 17 days later than the trial's original Dec. 2 start date, meaning the trial isn't likely to begin until next year, The (New Orleans)Times-Picayune reported Tuesday.

The newspaper said although Ellis had hinted strongly that Jefferson's trial on a 16-count corruption indictment would be delayed, he had not definitively said so. The original trial date was four days before the Dec. 6 Louisiana general election, in which Jefferson will seek a 10th term against four opponents.

Jefferson's attorneys say they may seek to overturn a U.S. appellate court ruling earlier this month denying Jefferson's motion to throw out most of the charges against him on the grounds that a grand jury was presented evidence that violated the separation of the legislative and executive branches of government, the Times-Picayune said.