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Jefferson trial pushed back |
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By Mike Soraghan
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Posted: 02/22/08 11:10 AM [ET] |
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The judge in the corruption case of Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) has officially delayed the trial, which had been scheduled to start Monday. The delay was widely anticipated after Jefferson’s attorneys notified the court Wednesday that he would appeal a pretrial ruling on a key element of the case. Jefferson is appealing a Feb. 6 ruling by Judge T.S. Ellis III that grand jury testimony in the case did not violate the “speech and debate clause.” The clause protects members of Congress from intrusions on their legislative prerogatives by members of the executive branch, such as federal prosecutors. The scope of speech and debate protections is a key element of the case. Ellis agreed with the argument of prosecutors that Jefferson’s interpretation was overly broad and would prevent a member of Congress from ever being formally accused of a crime associated with their work in Congress. The formal notice of delay was entered Thursday in court records. |
