Thursday was a wrap, at least as far as evidence and testimony go in the Tom DeLay trial.
This much both sides seemed to agree on: DeLay’s chief political aide, Jim Ellis, negotiated a deal with the Republican National Committee to donate $190,000 to seven Texas candidates from its noncorporate account. In exchange, Texans for a Republican Majority, a political committee DeLay started, gave the RNC $190,000 of corporate money. Ellis provided the RNC with a list of candidates and the amounts they should be given.
Texas law prohibits corporations from donating to candidates directly or indirectly.
Dick DeGuerin, DeLay’s lawyer, contended Thursday that no crime was committed: “Money swaps were common. They are lawful. There was no corporate money that came to Texas.”
DeLay told reporters that he didn’t need to testify once prosecutors played excerpts of his 2005 interview with Fox News.
“I didn’t need to say anything else,” he said. “I couldn’t believe that the prosecution finished their case with my testimony.”
Gary Cobb, the lead prosecutor, said he was disappointed that DeLay didn’t testify so that he could cross-examine him but is relying on the common sense of the jurors to piece together the alleged conspiracy.
As for the defense’s contention that no crime was proved, Cobb said, “They said that before we started. After the jury returns with a verdict, they’ll say the same thing.” He said it’s not unusual not to have direct evidence against the top person in a conspiracy: “There are layers of responsibility.”
In the end, Cobb said DeLay’s own words are the most critical piece of the case.
I figure we’ll have a verdict before Thanksgiving, but you never know. Anyone want to venture a guess as to what the jury will say?