DeLay Must Stay on Ballot as Court Rejects Appeal
By RALPH BLUMENTHAL
New York Times
HOUSTON, Aug. 7 — The United States Supreme Court dealt a final blow on Monday to efforts by the Texas Republican Party to replace former Representative Tom DeLay on the Congressional ballot in November, leaving him the reluctant party nominee from his longtime district.
Three state and federal courts had already ruled that Mr. DeLay had to remain the party’s choice despite his assertions that he had moved to Virginia from Texas. In April, he announced he would give up his re-election campaign and resign his seat to allow the party to select another candidate while he battled legal charges.
On Monday, Republican lawyers filed a final appeal to the Supreme Court, but it was rejected hours later without comment by the circuit justice, Antonin Scalia.
“There’s nothing else we’re going to do legally,” said James Bopp Jr., the lawyer who argued the case for the Republicans. “We’ve certainly exhausted our appeals.”
The court’s refusal to intervene handed a major victory to Democrats, who have fought to keep Mr. DeLay in the spotlight as a reminder of the Washington lobbying scandal involving his associate Jack Abramoff. It will make it harder for Republicans to retain Mr. DeLay’s old seat and will allow Democrats to send a wider message that change is needed on Capitol Hill.
(The rest is here.)
New York Times
HOUSTON, Aug. 7 — The United States Supreme Court dealt a final blow on Monday to efforts by the Texas Republican Party to replace former Representative Tom DeLay on the Congressional ballot in November, leaving him the reluctant party nominee from his longtime district.
Three state and federal courts had already ruled that Mr. DeLay had to remain the party’s choice despite his assertions that he had moved to Virginia from Texas. In April, he announced he would give up his re-election campaign and resign his seat to allow the party to select another candidate while he battled legal charges.
On Monday, Republican lawyers filed a final appeal to the Supreme Court, but it was rejected hours later without comment by the circuit justice, Antonin Scalia.
“There’s nothing else we’re going to do legally,” said James Bopp Jr., the lawyer who argued the case for the Republicans. “We’ve certainly exhausted our appeals.”
The court’s refusal to intervene handed a major victory to Democrats, who have fought to keep Mr. DeLay in the spotlight as a reminder of the Washington lobbying scandal involving his associate Jack Abramoff. It will make it harder for Republicans to retain Mr. DeLay’s old seat and will allow Democrats to send a wider message that change is needed on Capitol Hill.
(The rest is here.)
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