DeLay’s lawyer is a Democrat and court legend

updated 6:09 p.m. ET Oct. 20, 2005

AUSTIN, Texas - Republican Rep. Tom DeLay’s fate could hinge on a Stetson-wearing defense attorney who not only represented Waco cult leader David Koresh and helped a cross-dressing millionaire beat a murder rap, but is also a Democrat.

Why did Dick DeGuerin agree to represent one of the most fiercely partisan figures on Capitol Hill, a man who was House majority leader until his indictment on money laundering and conspiracy charges?

“I don’t think there’s anybody who needed me worse,” said DeGuerin, who will accompany DeLay to his first court appearance Friday.

“Not that I agree with his politics. I’m defending what’s happening to him. He’s being prosecuted because of his politics. He did change the face of politics in Texas,” said the 64-year-old celebrity member of the Texas bar. But he added: “I don’t think he did anything wrong.”

DeLay has been charged with illegally funneling corporate donations to candidates for the Texas Legislature in 2002. Texas law generally prohibits the use of corporate money for campaigning.

The fund-raising had major political consequences: It helped the GOP take control of the Texas House. The Legislature then redrew Texas’ congressional districts in a way that sent more Republicans to Washington and helped the GOP solidify its House majority.

Attacking a fellow Democrat
DeGuerin’s strategy has been to attack the man who brought the charges, Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, a fellow Democrat whose office in Texas’ capital city is responsible for investigating election abuses.

In court papers, DeGuerin has accused Earle of prosecutorial misconduct, including improperly sharing information with grand jurors, urging them to talk to the media and trying to coerce DeLay to plead guilty to a lesser crime.

“He looks at the law and he sees what he wants to see, and he prosecutes what he thinks ought to be prosecuted, rather than what it is,” DeGuerin said.

Earle has denied the case is politically motivated and has said it is his job to investigate abuses of power.

As for DeGuerin’s politics, his father worked for Lyndon B. Johnson while he was in Congress, and DeGuerin considers himself a loyal Democrat. He is not a prolific political contributor, but when he gives he largely backs Democrats.

But the candidate who has received the most contributions from DeGuerin is his former client Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. He has contributed about $10,000 to her campaigns between 1990 and 2006.

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