DeLay Assembles Defense Team For Ethics Complaint, Texas Probe
Wed Jul 07 2004 10:14:42 ET
Facing legal challenges in Washington and Austin, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) has retained lawyers to defend him in both a Congressional ethics probe and an ongoing investigation into Texas' 2002 legislative races, ROLL CALL reported today.
DeLay has rehired former Rep.
Ed Bethune (R-Ark.), currently a lawyer with the firm Bracewell & Patterson, to represent him against an ethics complaint filed by Rep. Chris Bell (D-Texas), DeLay aides said.
Meanwhile, in Austin, sources close to the Texas Republican said DeLay has hired two criminal-defense attorneys, Bill White and Steve Brittain, to represent him in an investigation by Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, who is probing the activities of a DeLay-founded PAC during the Texas 2002 legislative races. White and Brittain - who consulted with DeLay, and Earle, informally for several weeks - were officially retained in the week prior to the July 4 Congressional recess to monitor developments in Earle's investigation and determine their potential impact on DeLay.
Sources said DeLay may seek a waiver from the ethics committee to use the same fund to help pay for costs arising from the current Texas investigation.
Developing...
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