Jefferson Indictment Upheld By Appeals Court

A federal appeals court has ruled that the indictment of Rep. William Jefferson was constitutional, clearing the way for the embattled Louisiana Democrat to go to trial.

Jefferson's corruption case is best known for the allegation that the lawmaker hid $90,000 in cash in his freezer. But he has been fighting the case in court for the last 16 months and has tried to get the case dismissed under the Constitution's Speech or Debate clause. The Fourth Circuit Court denied the dismissal today, upholding a lower court decision.

The full appeals-court decision is available here.