NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal judge has refused to dismiss criminal charges against former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.

Nagin's lawyer earlier this week had asked that Nagin's indictment on bribery charges be thrown out, arguing that the case was tainted by prosecutorial misconduct. Defense attorney Robert Jenkins had said the alleged misconduct included anonymous online posts about Nagin by a former federal prosecutor.

U.S. District Judge Helen Berrigan denied the motion for dismissal Friday.

Nagin pleaded not guilty in February to charges he accepted bribes, free trips and other gratuities from contractors in exchange for helping them secure millions of dollars in city work.

The trial is scheduled to start Oct. 28, but Jenkins has asked Berrigan to postpone it. He says he needs more time to prepare.

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(Photo: Chris McKay/Getty Images for Usher's New Look Foundation)