Breaking News:
HOUSTON -– A Texas Court of Appeals in Austin has overturned the conviction of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, attorney Brian Wice told KVUE sister station KHOU 11 News.
In documents released early Thursday, the court said the evidence in the case was “legally insufficient to sustain DeLay’s convictions.”The court said all judgments against DeLay were reversed, and the former congressman was formally acquitted.
It was a 2 – 1 vote. The two Republicans voted with Tom. The one Democrat did not.
The State can request a review by the Court of Appeals.
Now I have to watch more of this crap.
And here’s the dissenting opinion.
Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg just issued this statement.
“Today, two judges sitting on the Third Court of Appeals reversed and acquitted former United States House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who was convicted of felony offenses by a jury in November of 2010.
“We are concerned and disappointed that two judges substituted their assessment of the facts for that of 12 jurors who personally heard the testimony of over 40 witnesses over the course of several weeks and found that the evidence was sufficient and proved DeLay’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”
“We strongly disagree with the opinion of Judges Goodwin and Gaultney that the evidence was insufficient. We are concerned and disappointed that two judges substituted their assessment of the facts for that of 12 jurors who personally heard the testimony of over 40 witnesses over the course of several weeks and found that the evidence was sufficient and proved DeLay’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
“We are preparing a response to this opinion and will ask the full Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to review the ruling.
I would like to add that I was sitting in the courtroom during the punishment phase of the trial and after hearing DeLay’s unsworn testimony, the judge said he, too, believed that DeLay was guilty.
