I think Earle may be miscalculating, though. If DeLay is ultimately exonerated, he's going to file ethics charges against Earle.
Earle has no ethics.
Delay has the balls to stand up to the Rats which is why they had to disable him through some means other than threats. You are correct that if he is exonerated, he will go after Earle with a vengenance, but unfortunately, that might be a long, long, long way off. Earle will drag his feet at every opportunity because once this is heard in court - Game Over!