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| Republican Tom DeLay's laundering conviction overturned | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A US appeals court has overturned the money laundering conviction of a once-powerful former Republican congressman, citing insufficient evidence. | A US appeals court has overturned the money laundering conviction of a once-powerful former Republican congressman, citing insufficient evidence. |
| Tom DeLay was convicted in 2010 of illegally funnelling corporate money to Texas Republican political candidates. | |
| Ruling 2-1, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the jury verdict, ruling prosecutors failed to prove the funds were "tainted". | Ruling 2-1, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the jury verdict, ruling prosecutors failed to prove the funds were "tainted". |
| Mr DeLay, first elected to Congress in 1984, rose to majority leader in 2003. | |
| Known as "the hammer", Mr DeLay was renowned for his ability to keep the Republican caucus firmly on the party line in close votes. | |
| The Texas congressman and former pest control magnate resigned in June 2006 following his indictment on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. | The Texas congressman and former pest control magnate resigned in June 2006 following his indictment on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. |
| Federal prosecutors said that during the 2002 mid-term election campaign, Mr DeLay's aides took $190,000 (£121,935) donated by corporate lobbyists to a campaign committee he controlled and gave it to an arm of the Republican National Committee. | Federal prosecutors said that during the 2002 mid-term election campaign, Mr DeLay's aides took $190,000 (£121,935) donated by corporate lobbyists to a campaign committee he controlled and gave it to an arm of the Republican National Committee. |
| That group then distributed the funds to seven state legislative candidates. | That group then distributed the funds to seven state legislative candidates. |
| 'Ecstatic and gratified' | 'Ecstatic and gratified' |
| Six of those candidates won, giving the Republican Party control of the Texas House of Representatives, which later pushed through a redistricting plan that sent more Republicans to Washington in 2004, solidifying Mr DeLay's hold on power. | Six of those candidates won, giving the Republican Party control of the Texas House of Representatives, which later pushed through a redistricting plan that sent more Republicans to Washington in 2004, solidifying Mr DeLay's hold on power. |
| Mr DeLay contended the swap was legal and that no corporate money was given to state-level candidates. He denounced the prosecution as a political vendetta. | Mr DeLay contended the swap was legal and that no corporate money was given to state-level candidates. He denounced the prosecution as a political vendetta. |
| A Texas jury convicted him in November 2010. The following January he was sentenced to three years in prison but was allowed to remain free pending appeal. | A Texas jury convicted him in November 2010. The following January he was sentenced to three years in prison but was allowed to remain free pending appeal. |
| On Thursday, the appeals court ruled that the prosecution had "failed in its burden to prove that the funds that were delivered to the seven candidates were ever tainted". | On Thursday, the appeals court ruled that the prosecution had "failed in its burden to prove that the funds that were delivered to the seven candidates were ever tainted". |
| Mr DeLay's attorney Brian Wice told the Associated Press Mr DeLay felt vindicated. | |
| "He's ecstatic. He's gratified. He's just a little bit numb," he said. "I'm hoping with today's victory, he will be able to resume his life as he once knew it." | "He's ecstatic. He's gratified. He's just a little bit numb," he said. "I'm hoping with today's victory, he will be able to resume his life as he once knew it." |