A U.S. federal judge on Monday reaffirmed the legality of a FBI raid on a congressman's office, saying lawmakers are not above the law.

In a statement, U.S. District Judge Thomas F. Hogan of Washington DC dismissed arguments of Congress leaders that the first-ever raid on a congressman's office in Capitol Hill was unconstitutional.

He also denied the return of materials seized by FBI agents from the office of Congressman William Jefferson between May 20 and 21.

Earlier this year, a business executive pleaded guilty to paying Jefferson more than 400,000 U.S. dollars in bribes.

An affidavit filed with Hogan to justify the raid said the FBI videotaped the congressman in August 2005 accepting 100,000 dollars from another business executive, who actually was a government informant.

The FBI also said it recovered 90,000 dollars from a freezer in Jefferson's home.

The congressman has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged. He also sought the return of the materials took away by FBI agents during the office raid.

The FBI raid angered Congress leaders, who said the raid on a congressman's office, the first time throughout U.S. history, violated the constitutional protections granted to lawmakers.

By the end of May, U.S. President George W. Bush stepped in to settle the brawl between the FBI and the Congress, ordering the solicitor general to take custody of the seized materials for 45 days so the two sides could work out their difference.

However, the 45-day "cooling off period" ended Sunday with no compromise worked out.

Source: Xinhua