Lawyer Who Fled Saigon at Age 8 Defeats Indicted US Rep

An immigration lawyer who fled Saigon at the age of 8 has defeated Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, a Harvard-educated lawyer who is under indictment on public corruption charges.

The election winner is Republican Anh "Joseph" Cao, who will become the first Vietnamese-American in Congress, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

"Never in my life did I think I could be a future congressman," Cao said. "The American dream is well and alive."

Turnout was light in the election, which was delayed by Hurricane Gustav. Former District Attorney Harry Connick had supported Cao.

Jefferson was indicted last year on charges of bribery and corruption after reports that FBI agents had found $90,000 in his freezer. Jefferson had challenged the FBI’s raid on his offices, winning a federal appeals court ruling that the bureau must return privileged legislative documents seized in the search. He has pleaded not guilty.