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Texas Court Overturns Tom DeLay's Money Laundering Conviction

Bob Daemmrich
/
Texas Tribune

A Texas appeals court has overturned the money laundering conviction of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

The Texas 3rd Court of Appeals said in a 2-1 ruling on Thursday that DeLay had been acquitted, The Associated Press is reporting. DeLay was sentenced to three years in prison, but his sentence was on hold while his case made its way through the appellate process.

DeLay's attorney, Brian Wice, told The Associated Press that the Republican was "ecstatic" and gratified by the ruling.

DeLay was found guilty in November 2010 of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering for helping illegally funnel corporate money to Texas candidates in 2002.

In Thursday's ruling, the judges wrote "we reverse the judgments of the trial court and render judgments of acquittal."

Texas Tribune has more details here, including PDFs ofthe ruling and the dissent.
 

Eric Aasen is KERA’s managing editor. He helps lead the station's news department, including radio and digital reporters, producers and newscasters. He also oversees keranews.org, the station’s news website, and manages the station's digital news projects. He reports and writes stories for the website and contributes pieces to KERA radio. He's discussed breaking news live on various public radio programs, including The Takeaway, Here & Now and Texas Standard, as well as radio and TV programs in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.