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July 25, 2008 12:19:09 PM CDT

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Jefferson Wins Round, Return of Documents

Posted Aug 3, 07 6:51 PM CDT in US,  Politics 

(Newser) – Rep. William Jefferson scored a legal victory today, winning the return of privileged materials from a FBI raid on his office. An appeals court said the raid itself was not unconstitutional, but the search of legislative materials was illegal. It’s unclear whether the ruling will affect the 16-count indictment against the congressman, but the Justice Department said it changes nothing.

The court ruled that documents covered under a constitutional clause that allows Congress to act independently of the executive branch must be returned, but many of the seized materials don't fit that description, the Washington Post reports. The government has maintained it used no privileged materials in building its bribery case against the Louisiana Democrat.

Source Washington Post

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A reporter walks out of the Capitol Hill office of Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., in this June 4, 2007 file photo. The FBI violated the Constitution when agents raided Jefferson's office last year and...   (Associated Press)
FBI agents load the back of a minivan outside the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington after continuing their of the offices of Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., in the May 21, 2006...   (Associated Press)
Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., checks in during a town hall meeting on housing in New Orleans, Saturday, July 7, 2007. (AP Photo/Cheryl Gerber)   (Associated Press)
Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., consoles former public housing resident Gloria Williams during a town hall meeting on housing in New Orleans, Saturday, July 7, 2007. (AP Photo/Cheryl Gerber)   (Associated Press)
Rep. William Jefferson, D-La. arrives to make a statement to reporters outside federal court in Alexandria, Va., Friday, June 8, 2007, after he pleaded not guilty to charges of soliciting more than $500,000...   (Associated Press)
Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., who earlier this week was indicted for bribery and corruption, makes a statement to reporters outside federal court in Alexandria, Va., Friday, June 8, 2007, after pleading...   (Associated Press)
Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., who earlier this week was indicted for bribery and corruption, makes a statement to reporters outside federal court in Alexandria, Va., Friday, June 8, 2007, after pleading...   (Associated Press)
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