Jefferson trial set to begin

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 15 (UPI) -- A former federal prosecutor says lawyers for former William Jefferson" class="tpstyle">U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., have an uphill battle at his bribery trial, set to begin in Virginia.

"If you have evidence of $90,000 stuffed in foil and food containers in the freezer, an attorney is really going to be hard-pressed to persuade the jury on more esoteric legal questions," Allan Goelman, now practicing in Washington, told The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune.

Opening arguments were scheduled to begin Tuesday in federal court in Alexandria, Va. A jury of eight women and four men was selected last week for the trial, which is expected to last four to six weeks.

The location of the trial is thought to be another point in the prosecution's favor, since the area has many residents in the military, generally thought to be pro-prosecution.

Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, does not believe a conviction is a given.

"It is not as easy a legal case for the prosecution as the facts might suggest," Turley said. "The prosecution could well lose this case."

Jefferson allegedly solicited bribes from companies seeking to do business in Africa. He has denied taking bribes and has pleaded not guilty.