Houston Chronicle

WELL, NOT EXACTLY. . . .

This is the way the local (to Delay) paper is spinning it.

Dec. 5, 2005, 4:24PM
DeLay's hopes dashed for quick end to case
Judge dismisses one felony indictment but upholds another

By R.G. RATCLIFFE
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

AUSTIN — A senior district judge today dismissed one felony indictment but upheld another against U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, dashing DeLay's hopes for a speedy resolution to his case.

A quick ruling in DeLay's favor from Senior District Judge Pat Priest throwing the case out of court was crucial to the Sugar Land Republican's efforts to regain his post as U.S. House majority leader. He was forced to step down when he was indicted in September.

Priest dismissed charges of conspiracy to violate the state election code but upheld a money laundering indictment against DeLay and two of his associates: Jim Ellis and John Colyandro. They were charged in connection with spending corporate money in the 2002 legislative races.

Priest had told DeLay's lawyers last month that if he upheld either of the indictments, he would be unable to hold a trial for DeLay before early next year.

House Republicans have indicated they wanted to hold a leadership election in January if DeLay was not cleared by then.