Delay case Delayed

U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay appeared in court to face campaign finance charges on Friday, but the session was cut short by his lawyer's charge that the judge was politically biased against the former second-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives. Inside the courtroom, Judge Bob Perkins told defense lawyer Dick DeGuerin that "the best way for me to handle" the request for a new judge would be to defer further proceedings.

State District Judge Bob Perkins was to arraign DeLay on conspiracy and money laundering charges, but postponed the hearing until another judge could rule on a defence motion that argued that he could not conduct a fair trial because he is a Democrat who gave money to Democratic candidates and the activist group MoveOn.org. The charges against Perkins follow DeLay's repeated assertions that Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, a Democrat who is leading the campaign finance investigation, is out to get him.

He and colleagues Jim Ellis and John Colyandro have been indicted by state grand juries in Austin for conspiracy and money laundering in a campaign-finance scheme conducted through DeLay's political action committee. They are accused of laundering $190,000 in corporate campaign contributions through the Republican National Committee for distribution to Republican candidates for the Texas Legislature. Texas law forbids the use of corporate money in political campaigns. DeLay could face up to life in prison if convicted.

DeLay said Earle targeted him because his political action committee helped Republicans take control of the Texas Legislature for the first time since the post-Civil War Reconstruction era. The legislature, under guidance from DeLay, then conducted a remapping of Texas congressional districts. Prosecutor Ronnie Earle signaled he intends to contest the request for a new judge.

DeLay attorney Dick DeGuerin, one of Texas' most prominent defence attorneys, told reporters after the hearing that Perkins had contributed to MoveOn.org and to Democratic candidates since the case came into his court a year ago. DeGuerin told Perkins that MoveOn.org was selling T-shirts of DeLay's mug shot taken after he turned himself in on Thursday. DeLay, who was fingerprinted and put up bail of $10,000, is smiling broadly in the mug shot.


Source: www.tray.com

4,019 .
Perkins, Robert A Mr
7/14/2004
$200.00
Austin, TX 78704
State Of Texas/Judge
[Contribution]
Transaction itemized by: JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
[View Image]

4,020 .
Perkins, Robert A Mr
7/24/2004
$500.00
Austin, TX 78704
State Of Texas/Judge
[Contribution]
Transaction itemized by: JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
[View Image]

14,429 .
Perkins, Robert
9/11/2004
$200.00
Austin, TX 78704
State of Texas/Judge
[Contribution]
MOVEON PAC
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1 .
DeGuerin, Dick
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$1,000.00
Houston, TX 77002
DeGuerin & Dickson/attorney
[Contribution]
FRANK BRISCOE FOR CONGRESS
[View Image]

2 .
DEGUERIN, DICK
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$1,000.00
HOUSTON, TX 77002
DEGUERIN & DICKSON
[Contribution]
RON KIRK FOR U S SENATE
[View Image]

3 .
DeGuerin, Dick
5/17/2004
$1,000.00
Houston, TX 77002
Self/Attorney
[Contribution]
TED POE FOR CONGRESS
[View Image]

4 .
DEGUERIN, DICK
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$1,000.00
HOUSTON, TX 77002
ATTORNEY
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DEGUERIN, DICK
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$1,000.00
HOUSTON, TX 77002
ATTORNEY
[Contribution]
KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON FOR SENATE COMMITTEE
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6 .
DEGUERIN, DICK
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$1,000.00
HOUSTON, TX 77002
ATTORNEY
[Contribution]
KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON FOR SENATE COMMITTEE
[View Image]

7 .
DEGUERIN, DICK
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$400.00
HOUSTON, TX 77002
ATTORNEY
[Contribution]
KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON FOR SENATE COMMITTEE
[View Image]

8 .
Deguerin, Dick Mr.
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$1,000.00
Houston, TX 77002
Deguerin & Dickson/Attorney
[Contribution]
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9 .
DeGuerin, Dick Mr.
12/15/2003
$1,000.00
Houston, TX 77002
Self/Attorney
[Contribution]
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[View Image]