Money laundering CONSPIRACY charge against Delay was NOT dismissed

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

From the Yahoo article on this news item:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051205/ap_on_go_co/delay_7;_ylt=ArKwyP_rcSu2lHAYcJPzdbGGbToC;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

"In asking that the case be thrown out, DeLay lawyer Dick DeGuerin argued that one of the charges — conspiracy to violate the Texas election code — did not even take effect until September 2003, a year after the alleged offenses occurred.

Prosecutors, however, said the crime of conspiracy was already on the books, and could be applied to the election code even though such uses were not explicitly in state law at the time.

The judge was unpersuaded by that argument, and dismissed the conspiracy charge. But the judge upheld charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Those charges involve an alleged attempt by DeLay to conceal the source of the campaign contributions by funneling the money through his own political action committee and then an arm of the
Republican National Committee.

Conspiracy to violate the election code carries up to two years in prison. Money laundering is punishable by five years to life. Conspiracy to commit money laundering carries two years."

To repeat:

"But the judge upheld charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering."

That which was dismissed was a separate charge of conspiracy to violate the Texas election code. THAT conspiracy charge was thrown out because the law only came into being AFTER the alleged illegal activity occurred. But the actual money laundering AND conspiracy to money launder is still in and Delay will be tried on both money laundering and conspiracy to launder money, with a potential of 7 years to life in prison if found guilty.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

1. I'm Sorry, I must've Missed The Thread Where Someone Thought It Was?

:shrug:

[bahrbearian]

3. On the News it was stated that the conspiracy charges were

dropped but the Money Laundering was going to trial.

[tocqueville]

2. so in theory he can get life + 2 years ? n/t