NEW ORLEANS - Two days after his former aide's guilty plea implicated him in a bribery case, Rep. William Jefferson said Friday he has done nothing wrong and was perplexed by the plea.

Jefferson, D-La., answered no questions about Brett Pfeffer's plea. He made a brief statement to reporters while in his hometown for a meeting of a congressional subcommittee gathering information on housing options for hurricane victims.

"I'm disappointed and in some ways perplexed by this development," Jefferson said.

"I've been in public life for 25 years. I have never required, demanded, or accepted on behalf of myself or my family or any third party anything to perform a service for which I've been elected. I wish I could be more forthcoming."

It was his first public statement on Pfeffer's plea Wednesday.

The former aide said a congressman demanded bribes in exchange for his assistance in brokering two African telecommunications deals. Court documents make clear that Jefferson is the accused congressman without specifically naming him.

Pfeffer, 37, pleaded guilty Wednesday to aiding and abetting bribery of a public official and conspiracy. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison at sentencing, set for March 31 in a federal court in Virginia.

Jefferson has not been charged with a crime. He represents most of New Orleans, including sections of the city that were hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina.