An appeals court in Austin, Texas, have overturned the money laundering conviction of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas.
The 3rd Texas Court of Appeals formally acquitted DeLay of all charges, finding that prosecutors used "legally insufficient" evidence to convict him in 2010 of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors accused DeLay of attempting to influence the 2002 election in Texas by funneling corporate money to candidates through his political action committee, Texans for a Republican Majority.
He had been sentenced to three years in prison, but had been free pending the results of an appeal.
The court rejected the state's contention the election law violations occurred when DeLay and others tried to swap "soft money for hard money" in transferring funds from an account used for general expenses to one used to contribute to candidates' campaigns, the Houston Chronicle reported.