Reply #27: Texas Rep. DeLay rejected plea bargain -lawyer

[Judi Lynn]

Texas Rep. DeLay rejected plea bargain -lawyer
Mon Oct 17, 2005 10:56 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Rep. Tom DeLay turned down a chance to plead guilty to a misdemeanor before the former House Republican leader was indicted on felony money laundering and conspiracy charges, his lawyer said in a letter made public on Monday.

In the letter to Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, DeLay's lawyer urged that the case be dismissed, saying the indictments were sought improperly.

"Before the first indictment you tried to coerce a guilty plea from Tom DeLay for a misdemeanor, stating the alternative was indictment for a felony which would require his stepping down as Majority Leader of the House of Representatives," attorney Dick DeGuerin wrote.

"He turned you down flat so you had him indicted, in spite of advice from others in your office that Tom DeLay had not committed any crime," the letter said.
(snip/...)

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2005-10-18T025612Z_01_FOR810552_RTRUKOC_0_US-DELAY.xml