Former Rep. Jefferson's trial set for May

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 16 (UPI) -- A U.S. judge has set a May trial date for former Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., accused of taking bribes to help a telecommunications company operate in Africa.

At a hearing Thursday in Alexandria Va., Jefferson's lawyer asked U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis to delay the trial until at least the end of April, The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reported. The lawyers said they expect a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court on claims that parts of the indictment against Jefferson violate the separation of powers clause in the Constitution.

Ellis set a May 26 trial date, citing his own crowded docket.

Jefferson represented the New Orleans area from 1991 to this month. He was defeated last year by Republican Joseph Cao.

During the investigation that led to Jefferson's indictment, FBI agents seized thousands of dollars found in a freezer at his home in Virginia.