Fundraiser to testify about PAC at DeLay trial

[November 04, 2010]  AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Prosecutors expect the latest witness in former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's money laundering trial to provide new insight into accusations the ex-lawmaker used his political action committee to illegally funnel $190,000 in corporate donations into Texas legislative races eight years ago.

Warren Robold was to resume testifying Thursday about his work as the fundraiser for DeLay's PAC.

Prosecutors allege DeLay and two associates -- Jim Ellis and John Colyandro -- illegally channeled the corporate money, which had been collected by DeLay's Texas PAC, through the Washington-based Republican National Committee. Under Texas law, corporate money cannot be directly used for political campaigns.

The money helped Republicans take control of the Texas House in 2002, prosecutors said. That majority allowed the GOP to push through a congressional redistricting plan engineered by DeLay that sent more Texas Republicans to Congress in 2004 and strengthened DeLay's political stature, prosecutors said.

DeLay, charged with money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, has denied any wrongdoing. If convicted, he could face up to life in prison.

Robold, who briefly testified Wednesday, had been indicted on charges of accepting illegal corporate contributions in connection with the alleged scheme. Prosecutors said Robold's charges were dismissed earlier this year and he is not testifying as part of any agreement.

None of the nine witnesses who have testified before Robold have directly tied DeLay to the alleged scheme. They have detailed how the PAC raised money and DeLay's role in its operation, with some witnesses saying DeLay had little involvement in running the group.

DeLay has said prosecutors have yet to present any evidence that he did anything that broke the law.

The presentation of evidence has been methodical and driven by documents.

"It all hasn't come together yet," lead prosecutor Gary Cobb said about his case.

Prosecutors deny defense claims that the charges are politically motivated by former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, a Democrat who brought the original case but has since retired.

DeLay's defense team also worried about the trial being held in Austin -- the most Democratic city in one of the most Republican states -- and its timing, with testimony beginning a day before Tuesday's midterm elections. DeLay has been pressing for a trial since he was indicted five years ago, but the case was slowed by appeals of pretrial rulings.

The criminal charges in Texas, as well as a separate federal investigation of DeLay's ties to disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, ended his 22-year political career representing suburban Houston. The Justice Department ended its federal investigation into DeLay's ties to Abramoff without filing any charges against DeLay.

Ellis and Colyandro, who face lesser charges, will be tried later.

DeLay, whose nickname was "the Hammer" for his heavy-handed style, has been mostly out of public view since resigning from Congress, except for an appearance on ABC's hit television show "Dancing With the Stars." He now runs a consulting firm based in the Houston suburb of Sugar Land.

[Associated Press; By JUAN A. LOZANO]

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