Lawmaker DeLay goes to court in Texas case

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) – Rep. Tom DeLay appeared in court
on Friday on campaign-finance charges, for a session cut short
by his lawyers’ charges that the judge is a Democrat who cannot
give a fair trial to the former second-ranking Republican in
the House of Representatives.

State District Judge Bob Perkins said he would ask another
judge to rule on a motion by DeLay attorney Dick DeGuerin that
he step aside from the case because he contributed money to
Democratic candidates and to the activist group MoveOn.org.

“It seems to me this is going to be a continuing issue when
there’s a Democratic judge and Republican defendant,” Perkins
said.

DeLay, once one of the nation’s most powerful politicians
but now an indicted felon fighting for his political life,
strode into the heavily secured courtroom with a smile on his
face and wife Christine by his side.

Because of the abbreviated hearing, he did not stand before
the judge to hear the charges against him or make any
statements in court.