WASHINGTON (AP) – Representative William J. Jefferson told congressional leaders Tuesday that he plans to take a temporary leave of absence from the House Small Business Committee after his indictment on charges of receiving more than $500,000 in bribes, according to a Democratic leadership aide.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because Jefferson’s announcement had not been made public, said the Louisiana Democrat was stepping down while his legal affairs are resolved. A spokeswoman for the congressman did not have immediate comment.

Mr. Jefferson’s decision to take a leave from the panel comes a few days before House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, is expected to urge a special House panel oust him from the committee. Last year, she succeeded in stripping Jefferson of his seat on the Ways and Means Committee over Mr. Jefferson’s objection. The congressman, who represents part of hurricane-ravaged New Orleans, was then re-elected in November to a ninth term in the House.

On Monday a federal grand jury in Alexandria, Va. handed up an indictment of Mr. Jefferson on 16 counts, including racketeering, soliciting bribes, wire fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice and conspiracy. He faces a possible maximum sentence of 235 years.

The indictment said Mr. Jefferson received more than $500,000 in bribes and sought millions more in separate schemes to enrich himself by using his office to broker business deals in Africa. The charges came almost two years after investigators raided Jefferson’s home in Washington and found $90,000 in cash stuffed in his freezer.