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Mose Jefferson

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- A Louisiana congressman's brother asked a federal judge Thursday to throw out the bribery case against him and investigate the source of a leak to a newspaper that broke the news of his expected indictment.

A lawyer for Mose Jefferson, one of U.S. Rep. William Jefferson's brothers, claims it tainted the grand jury proceedings when The Times-Picayune of New Orleans published a story about his client's anticipated indictment before the grand jury convened, deliberated or voted.

The newspaper didn't identify the anonymous source for its story. Jefferson's lawyer says someone in the federal government was the logical source, but he is asking U.S. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon to investigate.

Mose Jefferson was indicted in April on charges he paid bribes to a former New Orleans school board president in exchange for her support in awarding school contracts to a computer-based teaching system he helped sell.

Times-Picayune managing editor Peter Kovacs said he couldn't immediately comment on Jefferson's allegations. U.S. Attorney Jim Letten, through a spokeswoman, said he can't comment on a pending case.

Michael Fawer, one of Jefferson's attorneys, said Letten's office has refused to investigate the source of the leak.

"They have instead challenged Mr. Jefferson's defense team and expressed indignation that anyone would believe they -- who had the only means, motive and opportunity to execute this leak -- would have disclosed this information," Fawer wrote.

Last week, Vial Lemmon agreed to move the start of Jefferson's trial from March 23 to June 1. The judge disqualified attorney Ike Spears from representing Jefferson after prosecutors accused the lawyer of having a conflict of interest in the case. Fawer replaced Spears and said he needs more time to prepare his client's defense.

Mose Jefferson also awaits a trial on separate charges that he participated in a scheme to pocket more than $600,000 in grant money earmarked for charitable and educational programs.

Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., isn't accused of wrongdoing in either of the cases against his brother, but the nine-term congressman was indicted last year on separate corruption charges in Virginia. He is accused of misusing his office to broker business deals in Africa.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)