WASHINGTON—Zack Space the Democratic candidate for Congress was clear last year in calling for the resignation of Democratic Rep. William Jefferson of Louisiana, who at the time was under investigation.

However, Zack Space the freshman congressman appeared less aggressive yesterday in going after his fellow lawmaker, even though Jefferson was indicted this week on federal bribery charges.

Space is the Dover Democrat who replaced disgraced Republican Rep. Bob Ney of Heath. In May 2006, Space issued a campaign release urging in strong terms that Ney, who had not yet admitted his guilt in that corruption case, and Jefferson resign.

"Bill Jefferson and Bob Ney are the poster children for Washington's culture of corruption that is costing American families. I urge both to resign their seats in Congress so we can begin a new day and a new way of doing things," Space said then.

Asked yesterday whether Jefferson, who has insisted he is innocent, should resign, Space tucked a more-nuanced call for Jefferson's resignation at the end of lengthy comments dealing mostly with whether Congress has the legal standing to force Jefferson to resign.

"Because I believe so strongly in the cornerstone of our American judicial system — that every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty — I do not believe that we have legal standing to force Mr. Jefferson to resign at this moment," said the former Dover law director. "For the sake of making sure that his constituents are getting the services they need, Mr. Jefferson should seriously consider going ahead and resigning ... "

Stuart Chapman, Space's chief of staff, said Space was being consistent. Both last year and now, Space urged Ney and Jefferson to "take it upon themselves and understand that they may be a dishonor to the institution, and take it upon themselves for the sake of their constituents and the sake of the body to step aside," he said.

Later, Chapman offered up another statement, saying:

"The point then and the point now is that members of Congress must hold themselves to the very highest ethical standards. At this moment in time, the only way that Congressman Jefferson can be removed from the House of Representatives is for him to resign — which doesn't mean that members can't do everything they can to urge him to resign."

jriskind@dispatch.com