(Reuters) - Texas' highest criminal court upheld on Wednesday the dismissal of a campaign finance conspiracy charge that contributed to the political fall of Republican Tom DeLay, but he still may face trial on two other felony counts.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals refused to reinstate a charge thrown out by a lower court that DeLay and two associates conspired to violate Texas election law by funneling corporate money to Republican state legislature candidates in 2002.
Corporate political donations are forbidden under Texas law, but the charge was dismissed on a legal technicality.
"We knew we were right from the start. The bottom line is (Travis County District Attorney) Ronnie Earle's office obtained an indictment that wasn't even on the books," DeLay attorney Dick DeGuerin told Reuters.
DeLay, the former U.S. House of Representative majority leader, still is charged with money laundering and conspiracy to launder money, but has appealed the indictments on grounds they were politically motivated.He has accused Earle, a Democrat, of pursuing him because his success as House Republican leader had made him a favorite target of Democrats.
Presiding Judge Pat Priest has said he will not set a trial date until the appeals are finished.
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