NEW YORK (AP) - Federal prosecutors in New York have dropped some charges against a U.S. congressman indicted in a federal insider trading case.

U.S. Rep. Chris Collins was dropped from three counts in a rewritten indictment filed Tuesday in Manhattan federal court.

Collins, a Republican, has pleaded not guilty in the criminal case set for trial next year.

Prosecutors said in a letter to the trial judge that the charges were modified to avoid a delay in the case.

They say the charges prompted Collins to complain that he was being accused of wrongdoing over statements related to a speech and debate clause that protects members of congress from being prosecuted for legislative acts.

Collins was originally indicted in August 2018. His district covers part of western New York between Buffalo and Rochester.

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