DeLay's trial opens in Austin
By R.G. Ratcliffe - Houston ChronicleAUSTIN — The money-laundering trial of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay opened Monday with the Sugar Land Republican defiantly declaring his innocence.
After prosecutors read the two-count conspiracy and money-laundering indictment against DeLay, he turned to the jury and in a loud, confident voice said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I am not guilty.”
DeLay and two political associates are accused of raising $190,000 in corporate money through a Texas committee and swapping the money with the Republican National Committee in 2002 for a like amount of cash raised from individuals. That money then was given to seven candidates for the Texas House.
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