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DeLay seeks Quick Trial on One Criminal Charge
By April Castro, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, December 08, 2005
- Indicted U.S. representative eager to retake his seat as majority leader.-
U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay asked a judge Wednesday to move forward on just one of the two remaining criminal charges against him, an effort to go to trial quickly and bypass what could be a long appeals process.
Judge Pat Priest dismissed one conspiracy charge against the Sugar Land Republican on Monday but let stand charges of money laundering and conspiracy to launder money.
Because Priest stripped some language in the remaining conspiracy charge, that count could remain tied up in courts if prosecutors appeal.
DeLay attorney Dick DeGuerin asked Priest to isolate the money laundering charge and move forward with a trial on that charge alone.
DeLay is seeking a quick resolution of the charges so he can regain his post as House majority leader. As long as indictments are pending, House Republican rules prevent him from serving in the seat.
DeGuerin said that severing the remaining charges would "prevent expected efforts by the state to delay a public resolution of the case."
Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle has until Dec. 20 to appeal Priest's ruling.
Priest said he's not likely to set another hearing until it's clear whether the state will appeal, but DeGuerin asked Priest to schedule a pretrial hearing for next week and asked that a trial be tentatively scheduled for the first or second week in January.
It's not likely that Priest will proceed with a trial if an appeal is unresolved.
DeLay, 58, and two GOP fundraisers, John Colyandro and Jim Ellis, are accused of illegally funneling $190,000 in corporate donations to 2002 legislative candidates. Under Texas law, corporate money cannot be directly used for political campaigns, only for administrative purposes.
The charges against DeLay could still be thrown out before a trial if Priest agrees with prosecutorial misconduct claims that defense attorneys have alleged.
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