Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.), who is facing a December trial on political corruption charges, announced yesterday that he will run for a 10th term in the House.

"My family and I have sworn a great oath to trust God and to fight on to vindicate ourselves and our good name," Jefferson said in a statement, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "This we will do."

Jefferson has pleaded not guilty to charges of soliciting more than $500,000 in bribes. Investigators say they found $90,000 in cash in a freezer in Jefferson's Washington home. After allegations in the case became public, Jefferson cruised to victory in 2006 over a candidate backed by the state Democratic Party.

-- Ben Pershing, washingtonpost.com