Court Asks for Response to DeLay Motion

AP on Yahoo ^ | 12/28/05 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

AUSTIN, Texas - The state's highest criminal court has asked prosecutors to respond to former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's request that the charges against him be dismissed.

The all-Republican appeals court on Tuesday gave prosecutors a week to submit arguments regarding the request filed Friday by DeLay attorney Dick DeGuerin. The court will decide whether to take the case after the prosecutors' response is received.

DeLay spokesman Kevin Madden issued a statement Tuesday night saying the court had agreed to hear the case. A court official said Wednesday that was incorrect. The court's order had noted DeLay has filed the request and "it is ordered that the State may respond to these pleadings no later than one week from the date of this order."

In his motion, DeGuerin argues the indictments against his client are factually baseless. A spokesman for Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle did not return a telephone call seeking comment.

DeLay was forced to step aside as majority leader after he was indicted on money laundering and conspiracy charges in September.

He has been pressing for the court to address the charges quickly because he wants to regain his post before his colleagues call for new leadership elections next month. The case has been on hold while prosecutors appeal a judge's dismissal of some of the charges.

[GW and Twins Pawpaw]

My guess is that Ronnie Earle wants to drag this out as long as he possibly can because he still remembers how he got his a$$ burned by trying a similar deal with Kay Bailey Hutchison a few years back.

[shield]

bttt

[Clara Lou]

May it be burned again. Soon.

[joe fonebone]

now i may sound ignorant, but what does bttt mean?

[MeanWestTexan]

Bump To The Top, I would think.

[GW and Twins Pawpaw]

I was thinking of complete and utter incineration.:-)

[San Jacinto]

Thihs could be a good sign. The Court may be seriously considering dismissing the charges.

[San Jacinto]

Or thihs could mean nothing. LOL

[anymouse]

The clock is ticking for DeLay to regain his House leadership post.

Earle is trying to stall and run out the clock. The Texas Supremes have called Earle's bluff and are forcing him to put up or shut up.

The down side is that I think Earle will get more chances to stall, but at least now he has to at least put up a good show or the Texas Supremes will toss him out on his ear.

This is high stakes poker and Earle is holding a broken straight.

[penelopesire]

LOL..I liked your play by play. (giggle)

[shield]

bttt=bump to the top....bumping thread to the top so others can also read it....

[randog]

The all-Republican appeals court on Tuesday gave Democrat prosecutors a week...

Just trying to even out AP's blatant bias.

[wolfcreek]

Smart move on DeGuerin's part. I bet that burns Earle's ass!

[Enterprise]

When I first saw it I thought it meant, "Boy that's the truth!"

[battleax]

bttt

[Paul Ross]

Yup.

Earle is going down in flames again. What a sleaze. The Rats need a real whacking...

[Joe Boucher]

Delay is one of the only true republicans in leadership in the G.O.P., I mean look at Hastert and Frist, these guys are Bozos that want to get along and be liked.
Screw liked. I want a true conservative leader that doesn't spend my money on social crap.

[SmithL]

Or thihs could mean something entirely different.
; )

[freeangel]

If his butt doesn't get a jail sentence or disbarrment for bringing frivilous charges, then his a$$ isn't going to be burned enough.