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DeLay defense fund donations slow
Aides say drop due to reduction in legal fees; political attacks mount
07:10 AM CDT on Thursday, April 7, 2005
By TODD J. GILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News
WASHINGTON – Donations to Majority Leader Tom DeLay's defense fund have slowed considerably in the last few months. Some of his critics hope to cut the money flow even more with a new line of attack launched Wednesday demanding that corporate donors stop covering his legal bills.
The Tom DeLay Legal Expense Trust took in about $50,000 during the first quarter of 2005 – far below the pace that pumped in $430,000 during the second half of last year.
"We will make sure that we have enough resources to mount a vigorous response to all these attacks that the Democrats continue to launch at us," said DeLay spokesman Dan Allen.
DeLay alumni earn at least $45 million for lobbying firms
Aides and allies dismissed the idea that the slowdown in fund-raising for legal bills reflects slipping popularity. Rather, they said, his legal fees have simply subsided.
But the political attacks have not abated.
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