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 News from Around the Americas | October 2005 
Delay Indicted on Two New Charges
 Hilary Hylton - Reuters
| | Rep. Tom DeLay pauses as he talks to reporters about stepping down as House majority leader at the Capitol in Washington last week. (Reuters/Jonathan Ernst) |
Austin, Texas - A Texas grand jury on Monday indicted U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay on two new charges including money laundering, following a conspiracy indictment last week which forced him to step aside as the second-ranking Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The new indictment, for money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, was issued shortly after DeLay's lawyers sought to dismiss the original charge on a legal technicality.
DeLay denounced the latest action as an "abomination of justice."
The charges accuse DeLay of conspiring with two colleagues to launder $190,000 in corporate contributions to his Texans for a Republican Majority through the Republican National Committee for distribution to candidates for the Texas Legislature in 2002.
Texas law forbids the use of corporate money in political campaigns.
DeLay could face up to life in prison if convicted of money laundering and up to 20 years for conspiracy to commit money laundering.
DeLay, who represents a Houston area district, had been U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader from 2002 until last week's indictment.
Because of House Republican rules, he quit the leadership post, where he had played a key role in passing President George W. Bush's agenda including tax cuts and a prescription drug benefit for older Americans. He was able to keep his congressional seat.
DeLay said the resignation was temporary and vowed on Sunday that he would continue to exert influence in the House through close ties with Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois. Some moderate Republicans, however, have cast him as a possible liability for the party.
DeLay's defense team had filed a motion earlier on Monday to dismiss the first indictment on grounds the conspiracy charge did not apply to Texas elections until September 2003, said DeLay lawyer Dick Deguerin.
The motion was filed with state District Judge Bob Perkins, who did not rule because he is away on vacation, Deguerin said.
DeLay accused Travis County, Texas, District Attorney Ronnie Earle of "prosecutorial abuse" and denied all charges.
"He is trying to pull the legal equivalent of a 'do-over' since he knows very well that the charges he brought against me last week are totally manufactured and illegitimate. This is an abomination of justice," DeLay said in a statement issued by his office. |
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