From The Associated Press, 7/12/05:
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3262912
July 12, 2005, 12:41PM
Judge won't kill charges against DeLay associate
Associated Press
AUSTIN --
Today a state district judge refused to dismiss charges of accepting
illegal political contributions against an associate of U.S. House
Majority Leader Tom DeLay.
Lawyers for John Colyandro, who worked for DeLay's fundraising
committee Texans for a Republican Majority, had claimed the indictment
against him was based on an unconstitutionally vague law.
Judge Bob Perkins also refused to dismiss a charge of money laundering
against Colyandro, although that issues remains technically alive.
Prosecutors last week brought a second indictment on that charge last
week.
Perkins' ruled on the first indictment and set another hearing for
July 27.
Although the ruling moves Colyandro a step closer to trial, his
attorney, Joe Turner, said he would immediately begin preparing an
appeal, which could delay any trial until 2006.
Perkins did not rule on a motion to dismiss money laundering
indictment against another DeLay associate, Jim Ellis.
An Aug. 9 hearing was scheduled for him.
Like Colyandro, prosecutors issued a new indictment against Ellis last
week that tweaked the language of the money laundering charge after
defense lawyers argued the original referred to a check instead of
cash.
While defense lawyers said the law refers only to cash transactions,
Perkins said it was clear to him it would include checks as well.
"In my opinion, I think funds would include checks," Perkins said from
the bench.
The charges stem from the 2002 Texas legislative elections.
The money laundering charges are based on $190,000 in corporate money
that was sent to the Republican National State Elections Committee.
That committee then gave the same amount of money in donations to
seven Texas House candidates.
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"Insect" DeLay can't seem to get the monkey off his back, eh?
Harry
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