WTF????

Are you kidding me? DeLay's first day in court was cut short because his lawyer, Dick DeGuerin filed a motion whining that Judge Perkins step aside from the case on the grounds that he gave money to Democratic candidates and the activist group MoveOn.org.

This is hilarious for the simple fact these fucks had no problem with Kenneth Starr, the worst partisan Republican on earth and Independentent Counsel who pushed to have President Clinton impeached over the Monica Lewinsky scandal and still continues to go after Clinton to this day.

What about the fact this slimey jerk [DeLay] finds himself in court today because of his own partisan politics. I guess that's why he's using this tactic, he is so guilty of doing the very thing he's whining about now.

I hope he just keeps on smiling, it'll be that much more enjoyable seeing it wiped off of his face.

Lawmaker DeLay goes to court on finance charges
By Jeff Franks 55 minutes ago

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters)

Tom DeLay appeared in court on Friday to face campaign-finance charges, but the session was cut short by his lawyer's argument that the judge is a Democrat who cannot give a fair trial to the former second-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives.

State District Judge Bob Perkins said he would ask another judge to rule on a motion filed on Thursday by DeLay attorney Dick DeGuerin. The motion asks that Perkins step aside from the case on the grounds that he gave money to Democratic candidates and the activist group MoveOn.org.

"It seems to me this is going to be a continuing issue when there's a Democratic judge and Republican defendant," Perkins said.

DeLay was once one of the nation's most powerful politicians, nicknamed "The Hammer" for his iron-fisted control of House Republicans, but now is an indicted felon fighting aggressively for his political life. He strode into the heavily secured courtroom with a smile on his face and wife Christine by his side.

Because of the abbreviated hearing, he did not stand before the judge to hear the charges against him or make any statements in court.

Afterward, he went to the nearby Texas Capitol, and with it as a backdrop, repeated that he is not guilty of a crime and only the victim of a Democratic political vendetta.

"I have been charged for defeating Democrats," a defiant DeLay said. "I have been charged for advancing the Republican agenda."

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 plan conducted through DeLay's Texans for a Republican Majority political action committee, or TRMPAC.

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 faces a sentence as long as life in prison if convicted.

TARGETED

DeLay said he has been targeted by Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, a Democrat, because TRMPAC's activities 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 controversial remapping of Texas congressional districts and added five Republicans to the U.S. House.

DeGuerin, one of Texas' most prominent defense 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.

He complained to Perkins that MoveOn.org was selling T-shirts of DeLay's mug shot taken on Thursday when he turned himself into police in Houston after an arrest warrant was issued.

DeLay, who was fingerprinted and put up bail of $10,000, is smiling broadly in the mug shot for police files.

The judge, DeGuerin complained, had "supported people who are in opposition to Congressman DeLay."

Perkins told DeGuerin he had not seen or bought the T-shirt and had contributed to MoveOn.org only ahead of last year's presidential election.

DeLay, who represents a Houston-area district, was indicted on September 28 and, as required by House Republican rules, resigned as majority leader. He was allowed to keep his congressional seat.

Along with the TRMPAC investigation, DeLay has been criticized in the past year for ethics problems involving lobbyists, fund-raising and foreign travel.