US lawmaker denies taking bribes

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US Democratic Congressman William Jefferson has pleaded not guilty to soliciting bribes in exchange for brokering business deals in Africa.

Mr Jefferson, who represents a Louisiana district, faces 16 counts, including fraud, money-laundering, obstruction of justice and conspiracy.

Mr Jefferson was granted bail and the trial date set for January 2008.

The charges came almost two years after investigators found $90,000 of alleged bribe money stuffed in his freezer.

Mr Jefferson, a member of Congress since 1991, was re-elected to the House of Representatives last November while under investigation.

A 94-page indictment issued on Monday accused Mr Jefferson of involvement in a series of bribery schemes.

He is accused of racketeering, soliciting bribes for himself and his family, wire fraud, money-laundering, obstruction of justice and conspiracy.

He is also the first sitting congressman to be charged with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits corporate bribery overseas.

If convicted on all counts, Mr Jefferson faces a possible maximum sentence of 235 years in prison.

'Food containers'

Prosecutors allege that the congressman used his position on the congressional Africa Investment and Trade Caucus to broker deals in numerous African countries, including Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Botswana and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

An FBI witness said Mr Jefferson put $90,000, intended as a bribe for an unnamed Nigerian official, in his home freezer, wrapped in aluminium foil and concealed in food containers.

Mr Jefferson's lawyer entered a not guilty plea to all 16 counts at a federal court hearing in Alexandria, Virginia.

The judge ordered Mr Jefferson to pay $100,000 bail and set the trial for 16 January.