Why would it be illegal? I doubt if there is any legal requirement that investigations be confidential. I doubt if it violates the legal cannons of ethics either, which in fact have the force of law in California. Granted to reveal a investigation of a non public figure where no indictment ensues seems seamy, but everyone on this planet knew Earle wanted DeLay, and wanted him bad, and the speculation is that apparently somebody previously indicted squealed about DeLay's mens rea just before the statute of limitations ran on DeLay. I suspect Earle offered very handsome incentives for the timely squeal. Just my idle speculation.
My guess is that DeLay is in real legal trouble, assuming Earle has a rat fink in his pocket. I know nobody agrees with me on this, but I don't think the merry go round of money will fly under Texas law, and Delay admitted to Brit that he knew about the Texas PAC contributions that went to the RNC, and said "everybody" was pumping money into soft accounts in exchange for hard dollars from conduit entities. Maybe everybody was. Tell it to a jury.
Nobody gives a flying fartola about California and what's legal there! Said it before, say it again...
You are a fruitcake, which by the way are made in Georgia!