So much for "House Majority Leader" status for DeLay.
Judge Pat Priest ordered U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay and two co-defendants to be tried next year on charges that they laundered corporate money into political donations during the 2002 elections.
The judge, however, threw out the indictment accusing the defendants of conspiring to violate a Texas law prohibiting the spending of corporate money in connection with a campaign. The judge ruled that conspiracy charges did not apply to the state's election code until the Legislature changed state law in 2003 -- after the alleged offenses had been committed.
Note that the second indictment was thrown out on a technicality -- that what is illegal now wasn't illegal under state law when DeLay committed his crimes. So there is no vindication here for DeLay. And there won't be unless he emerges from a trial with a "not guilty" verdict.
Now the action shifts to the House, where House GOoPers are about to go to war to choose a permanent successor to DeLay. Jesse Lee at the Stakeholder gives us a preview of coming attractions.
Update: Interesting comment string arguing that DeLay didn't get off the conspiracy charge on a technicality but on a shit ruling.