Burnt Orange Report

All Tom DeLay Wants For Christmas...

By Damon McCullar

...is his majority leader office back. Unfortunatly, it looks as if he won't qualify for the job when elections come around in January. It won't be because his attorney's aren't trying.

From the AAS:

Time may have run out on U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay's quest to be tried on money-laundering charges before Congress begins a new term in late January.

The Third Court of Appeals in Austin refused Thursday to intervene immediately in DeLay's request to be tried quickly on the first-degree felony charge. The appellate court also denied DeLay's request to speed up the exchange of legal briefs on whether DeLay can get a quick trial.

The decision means DeLay's trial might be postponed for weeks, if not months, and Congress likely will begin a new term in late January without the Sugar Land Republican reclaiming the U.S. House majority leader post.

Of course if the Court of Appeals does take the extraordinary step of dismissing all the charges against DeLay, it may be all for naught. Rumor has it that Abramoff is trying to cut a deal with the Justice Dept. There's no telling what kind of dirt he has gainst DeLay and company.