A Texas appeals court has overturned the money laundering conviction of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.
Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay pauses to listen to a question as he talks to reporters as he leaves a lunch meeting on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013 in Washington. A Texas appeals court tossed the criminal conviction of DeLay on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013, saying there was insufficient evidence for a jury in 2010 to have found him guilty of illegally funneling money to Republican candidates. (Photo by Carolyn Kaster/AP)
AUSTIN, Texas—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. 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 appellate judges decided to “reverse the judgments of the trial court and render judgments of acquittal,” calling the evidence “legally insufficient.”