DeLay’s conspiracy charge rejected

A Texas judge yesterday threw out a campaign finance conspiracy charge against Rep. Tom DeLay, but ruled that the prosecutors’ money laundering charge should go forward.

The ruling means Mr. DeLay, Texas Republican, will not be able immediately to regain the House majority leader’s post he gave up after his Sept. 28 indictment, and some Republicans said it means that House Republicans will have to elect new leaders.

Prosecutor Ronnie Earle has 15 days to appeal Judge Pat Priest’s ruling, and the judge said he is not likely to move forward on Mr. DeLay’s case until after the 15 days have elapsed.

Despite remaining in political limbo, Mr. DeLay’s camp called the ruling a victory.

“The court’s decision to dismiss a portion of Ronnie Earle’s manufactured and flawed case against Mr. DeLay underscores just how baseless and politically motivated the charges were,” said his spokesman, Kevin Madden.

But Democrats said Mr. DeLay is not off the hook.

“This is not a vindication, Congressman DeLay still faces very serious criminal charges,” said Jennifer Crider, spokeswoman for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Mr. Earle’s office issued a written statement, saying they had not decided whether to appeal.

Mr. DeLay had no comment last night at a previously scheduled Houston fundraiser attended by Vice President Dick Cheney.

One Republican House member who asked not to be quoted said the combination of corruption charges against Republicans is hurting.

“I think it’s disastrous,” the lawmaker said. “People are worried with so much out there already, they’re waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

He mentioned other ongoing investigations, such as the Justice Department’s look at former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Mr. DeLay took a golfing trip to Scotland in 2000 with Mr. Abramoff and has faced charges that the lobbyist paid for the trip — a violation of ethics rules. Mr. DeLay has said that while majority leader, he did not break House ethics rules or the law.

The charges all stem from a political action committee that Mr. DeLay helped found to assist Republicans in Texas.

Prosecutors said Mr. DeLay was involved in a conspiracy to take corporate money — the use of which is limited in Texas elections — send it to an arm of the Republican National Committee (RNC) in Washington and have the RNC send back the “laundered” money that could be spent more broadly under Texas law.

Story Continues →