Tom DeLay, former House majority leader and, more recently, contestant on “Dancing With the Stars,” finally heads to trial today, five years after he was charged with money laundering.
DeLay, a Republican, faces charges that he illegally funneled $190,000 from corporations to Texas state races in 2002. That year, Republicans took the majority in the Texas state house, leading to a Republican-led redistricting that put more Texan Republicans in the U.S. House.
He was reportedly upbeat as he entered the Austin courthouse today. DeLay’s defense team had tried to move the trial out of the Democratic state capital, but a judge denied their request.
The Hammer has repeatedly professed innocence, and his lawyers have accused state prosecutors of wrongdoing after it took three grand juries to bring the charges against DeLay.
If convicted, according to the AP, DeLay could face life in prison. The trial is expected to last three weeks.
Jurors were selected last week. Selection was marked by arguments over the jury’s racial makeup. According to the Houston Chronicle,, DeLay’s lawyers at the last minute struck all five African-American jurors. Prosecutors objected and the judge resolved the dispute by seating a black woman on the jury.
Earlier this year, the Justice Department told DeLay that it would not pursue charges against him over his connections to corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
