DeLay seeks new judge in money-laundering case

And now, here's a little legal mudslinging on CNN.Com:

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Rep. Tom DeLay appeared in court Friday for the first time since indictment, but arraignment on conspiracy and money laundering charges was delayed pending a hearing on his request for a new judge in the politically-charged case.

DeLay, who has stepped aside at least for the time being as House majority leader, did not speak during the brief court session, and was not called on to make a plea.

But at a news conference shortly afterward, he attacked the prosecutor in the case as politically motivated, and said, "I will absolutely be exonerated."

Inside the courtroom, Judge Bob Perkins told defense lawyer Dick DeGuerin that "the best way for me to handle" the request for a new judge would be to defer further proceedings.

That set the stage for a pointed exchange between the two men that seemed as much a campaign debate as a courtroom exchange.

You're gong to see a lot of this in the Tom DeLay Trial. DeLay has already accused prosecutor Ronnie Earle of partisan politics, claiming that Earle is a Democrat--Never mind the fact that DeLay probably did launder money through different campaign organizations. So now DeLay is screaming that the judge is also partisan. Continuing on:

In respectful tones, DeGuerin noted that Perkins had donated money to MoveOn.org, a liberal organization that he said has been "selling T-shirts with Mr. DeLay's mug shot on it."

Judge responds

"Let me just say I haven't ever seen that T-shirt, number one. Number two, I haven't bought it. Number three, the last time I contributed to MoveOn that I know of was prior to the November election last year, when they were primarily helping Sen. Kerry," responded the judge.

MoveOn.org denied it was selling any such shirts, and issued a statement that said, "DeGuerin has either bad information or lied in court."

So, since Perkins donated money to MoveOn.org--which hasn't been selling T-shirts with DeLay's mug shot on it--then that means that Perkins is also a partisan and should be replaced by a friendly conservative judge who'll throw DeLay's case out? I love the judge's response. Of course, prosecutor Earle has some interesting things to say about this fun day in court:

Prosecutor Ronnie Earle signaled he intends to contest the request for a new judge.

"What this means is if a judge had contributed to Crime Stoppers that judge could not hear a burglary case," Earle said. "Carried to its extreme, that is what I think this motion means and I think that's absurd."

"We don't live in a country where political party determines the measure of justice," Earle said, adding that he though DeLay could get a fair trial in the state's capital.

This is going to be a fun trial.