DeLay Could Face Conspiracy Charge

The state's highest criminal appeals court said Wednesday it would consider reinstating a conspiracy charge against former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, further delaying his felony money laundering trial.

A Travis County grand jury indicted DeLay and two political consultants last year on charges stemming from Republican fundraising during the 2002 legislative races.

A state district court judge later threw out one of two conspiracy charges. Prosecutors asked the appeals court to reinstate the dropped charge, and the court said Wednesday that it would consider that request.

Judge Pat Priest said he would proceed with DeLay's trial when the appeals process has ended.

Prosecutors accuse DeLay and the two consultants of violating state law by funneling $190,000 in illegal corporate money to the Republican National Committee, which then donated the same amount to Texas candidates. Under Texas law, corporate money can't be directly used for political campaigns.

DeLay and associates Jim Ellis and John Colyandro deny the transaction was illegal.

The dispute over the dismissed charge centers on whether the conspiracy statute applied to the state's election code in 2002. DeLay was accused of conspiring to violate the election code, but his attorneys say that transaction was not illegal at the time.

The other conspiracy count DeLay faces accuses him of conspiring to launder money.

[drgoodwin12]

All individuals who are found guilty should serve no less than 20 years in a real prison,regardless of their age or health. Accepting basically bribes members of congress should also be tried for treason.They should serve an additional 20 years to life for this with no exceptions for parole.Let them dig ditches on a chain gang with common(ordinary citizens that have been convicted of a crime). Pass legilasitation that forbids corporation or lobbyist from donating money and make it where neither party can outspend the other. Put caps on spending for races and have the money watched by a non partisan group with the legal authority to prosecute individuals,corporation or lobbyist who break the law.As Neil sang with a different meaning but aptly heres "Let's Roll "

[swinginglum]

When Delay was in Washington, before being indicted, he received loads of money in return for "favors", I wonder which Republican crook is getting all that money now.

The more things change the more they stay the same.

And before you Republicans start whining about how "Democrats do it too!" (as if that makes it ok) here's a response(warning, this video is non-Rush "Drug Addict" Limbaugh approved):
http://movies.crooksandliars.com/nbc_dean_wiretaps_060126a.wmv

Specifically see last one minute of Deans response.

[mjv2944]

This guy is a typical Washington politician, and our congress is full of this type of person. VOTE THEM OUT in Nov. Maybe we stand a chance to take our country back from Big Business. If we don't, we will definitely be a country of the needy and the greedy with nothing in between.

[clestes-2009]

Wow, this is just beautiful. I agree completely with felixrandom too. Send Delay to Iraq for a tour. This corrupt sob sold out Congress, paraded as a Christian, robbed from the poor to keep the rich rich, and is generally the most repulsive example of a politician there is. You know a man by his friends. This jerk was a close friend of Bush, until the truth came out, and then Bush would no longer take his calls.

Says a lot, doesn't it.

[felixrandom]

delay is slicker than greased dog manure and meaner than a deranged pit bull, too bad he can't be deployed to iraq. his methodology meshes so perfectly with the terrorists i wonder how much they were paying him, certainly everyone else was..........