CLEVELAND — U.S. Rep. James Traficant asked a federal judge Monday to suppress hundreds of pages of evidence the government plans to use against him in his upcoming trial on brib ery charges.

        Mr. Traficant filed a motion asking U.S. District Court Judge Lesley Wells to suppress 44 pieces of evidence that he argues are protected by the congressional “Speech and Debate Clause Privilege.”

        Mr. Traficant said the Constitution provides a clause allowing members of Congress to speak freely while acting in their official capacity without fear of criminal or civil prosecution.

        The congressman is not an attorney, but is representing himself against 10 charges of bribery and racketeering. He faces trial Feb. 4 on charges he accepted cash, meals and work on his farm in exchange for political favors.

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