Tom DeLay Conviction Overturned By Texas Appellate Court

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

A Texas court ruled Thursday to overturn the conviction of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), who was found guilty of money laundering in 2010.

According to KHOU 11 and the Associated Press, the Third Court of Appeals in Austin said the case's evidence was "legally insufficient to sustain DeLay's convictions," formally acquitting the former congressman on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

The Houston Chronicle reports that the decision to overturn DeLay's conviction was made by a 2 to 1 vote.

In the 2010 case, a jury found the former Majority Leader guilty of funneling $190,000 in corporate donations to candidates in Texas elections during the 2002 cycle.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/19/tom-delay-conviction-overturned_n_3954192.html

[niyad]

1. does this surprise any of us, really?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

2. Nope! nt

[HappyMe]

6. No, not at all.

[Rex]

3. Crime pays! It is obvious by now that

certain animals will always be worth more than other animals. Just look at the untouchable Bush Jr.

[Autumn]

4. The rich and powerful really are different

from the rest of us.

[warrant46]

5. The Fix is IN

The Scum Bag will walk away

[Live and Learn]

7. More proof that our justice system is a sham

and is used only to punish the people of lesser means that do not conform to the rules of the 1%.

[KamaAina]

8. As long as he doesn't go back on Dancing With The Stars.

[Baitball Blogger]

9. He'll be running for office within a week.

[SCUBANOW]

16. I say he will be in the next election cycle, and win.

[golfguru]

17. Are you joking?

He is from TX and probably will win in a landslide with the redneck vote.

[SCUBANOW]

18. He is already making the local talk show rounds.

[tammywammy]

10. I think it was based on how the law was written at the time

At the time the law did not account for checks to be considered money. So since he laundered the money via checks, unfortunately he was not guilty.

I think the law has been rewritten to correct for this.

[OccupyManny]

11. Feds

Maybe Holder can investigate him now. They can't let him get away with this.

[Gothmog]

12. Juanita Jean has the comments of the DA who convicted DeLay

http://juanitajean.com/2013/09/19/as-a-surprise-to-no-one/#comments

Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg just issued this statement.

“Today, two judges sitting on the Third Court of Appeals reversed and acquitted former United States House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who was convicted of felony offenses by a jury in November of 2010.

“We are concerned and disappointed that two judges substituted their assessment of the facts for that of 12 jurors who personally heard the testimony of over 40 witnesses over the course of several weeks and found that the evidence was sufficient and proved DeLay’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”

“We strongly disagree with the opinion of Judges Goodwin and Gaultney that the evidence was insufficient. We are concerned and disappointed that two judges substituted their assessment of the facts for that of 12 jurors who personally heard the testimony of over 40 witnesses over the course of several weeks and found that the evidence was sufficient and proved DeLay’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

“We are preparing a response to this opinion and will ask the full Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to review the ruling.

[gopiscrap]

13. Fuck that just goes to show you there are two justice systems operating in this country!

[spanone]

14. the system is fucked...this only highlights the fuckedness

[Doremus]

15. omfg.

If we could erase everyone's memory banks back to the mid-90s, then suddenly snap them back into 2013, we would have instant riots, strikes and general rage in protest of the plutocracy that has slowly enveloped our society.

As it is, we are a huge vat of (soon to be) boiling frogs who are oblivious to each creeping step forward to fascist hell.

Congrats, you fuckface Delay. Your benefactors have pulled through and you are free to go.