DeLay Indicted Again For Money Laundering
DeLay indicted again for money laundering
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051003/ts_nm/delay_dc_4
10/3/2005
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Texas grand jury has indicted U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay on a charge of money laundering, the second indictment against the Texan who stepped aside last week as the second-ranking Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Delay's office confirmed the indictment on Monday. It released a statement in which 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.
A Travis County grand jury indicted DeLay last Wednesday on a felony conspiracy charge, and he temporarily gave up his post as House Majority Leader.
The initial indictment accused DeLay and two alleged co-conspirators of engaging in a plan to launder $190,000 in corporate donations through the Republican National Committee for distribution to Republican candidates for the Texas Legislature.
Texas law generally prohibits corporate money from being used for campaign activities.
House Republican rules required DeLay to give up his leadership position because of the indictment, although he can remain in Congress.
