Thursday, October 2, 2014

Texas appeals court upholds [Tom] DeLay reversal [decade-long battle]!

Houston Chronicle ^ | October 1, 2014 | MICHAEL GRACZYK, 

HOUSTON (AP) — The highest criminal court in Texas refused Wednesday to reinstate two money-laundering convictions against former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, ending a nearly decade-long criminal case against the one-time GOP heavyweight.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals upheld a ruling last year from the 3rd Court of Appeals that tossed the Republican's 2010 convictions for money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.


Travis County prosecutors had argued in June before the Austin-based Court of Criminal Appeals that the convictions be reinstated in what they called a scheme to influence Texas state elections.
"We agree with the court of appeals' ultimate conclusion that, as a matter of law, what the state has proven in this case does not constitute either of the alleged criminal offenses," the high court said in its 8-1 ruling.
DeLay, 67, who had long contended the charges were politically motivated, said he was not angry about his prosecution, which ultimately cost him the No. 2 job in the U.S. House.
"I understand what it's about and it's about ... the criminalization of politics and the misuse of power ... and prosecutorial misconduct," DeLay said Wednesday from his attorney's office in Houston.
Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, whose Austin-based office prosecuted the case, said she strongly disagreed with the appeals court's decision.
"This opinion effectively repeals the Texas statute prohibiting corporate contributions and places a burden on the state that is impossible to overcome," Lehmberg said in a statement. "This decision undermines the fairness and integrity of our elections.".....
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...

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