Whether Tom DeLay is forced to stay on the ballot in Texas, or is allowed to drop out and have a less radioactive replacement appointed by Texas Republicans, will be up to Antonin Scalia.
Updated! The Supreme Court didn't take the case. Delay's on the ballot!
WASHINGTON -- Texas Republicans asked Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia today to block an appeals court ruling that says the name of indicted former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay must appear on the November ballot.
Democrats are suing to keep DeLay on the ballot, with the former lawmaker's legal troubles becoming a symbol for claims of Republican corruption.
DeLay won a March primary before resigning June 9 from Congress.
Texas Republican Party chairwoman Tina Benkiser requested a delay of the appeals court ruling until Republicans can formally ask the Supreme Court to review the case. The request was filed with Scalia because he handles appeals from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which issued the ruling last week siding with Democrats.
Election laws allow political parties to replace ineligible candidates as their nominee with someone who would be eligible to serve if elected, the application to the Supreme Court stated.
DeLay is awaiting trial in Texas state court on money laundering and conspiracy charges alleging that illegal corporate cash helped pay for legislative campaigns in 2002.
Republicans want to pick another nominee to face Democrat Nick Lampson in November.
If Tom DeLay is forced to stay on the ballot, having already announced a move to Virginia, there is little chance he could win.
Will Antonin Scalia be an impartial arbiter of justice in the Tom DeLay matter?
Update: looks like justice has somehow prevailed, as Jorndorff notes in the comments:
* [new] Request denied (8+ / 0-)
Lawyer for the Texas Republicans James Bopp has just issued a notice that Justice Antonin Scalia has denied their stay request.
That means that Tom DeLay WILL be forced to run again -- or watch the Democrat opponent run without a GOP opponent.
by jorndorff on Mon Aug 07, 2006 at 01:57:22 PM PDT
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Tom Delay is
sooooo screwed. Now he will, in the course of his campaign, explain why he spent all the money he previously raised under the guise of a re-election campaign on
legal fees
A report in today's Roll Call indicated that the former Texas Congressman and House Republican Majority Leader has spent $1.7 million on legal fees, leaving him with only $641,000 in his campaign reserves. DeLay's legal team is currently drawn from nine different law firms.
A recent ruling by a federal judge has required DeLay's name to stay on the ballot in his now former Congressional district. If he chooses to go forward with an attempt at re-election, he will face Democrat Nick Lampson who currently holds $2.2 million in campaign funds. DeLay would then also be faced with the dilemma of simultaneously financing both his legal defense and his political campaign.
And also, why he is registered to vote in Virginia and holds a Virginia's driver license?
DeLay gave Benkiser documents showing he had declared his longtime condominium in Virginia as his home. He changed his voter registration, driver's license and hunting license, but Democrats noted he kept a home in Sugar Land.
Will Texans take kindly to a politician who is registered to Vote in Virginia? Will DeLay vote in Virginia? Will voters all over the country be reminded of why they don't like Republicans??! So many questions!