DeLay jurors seek info on money laundering

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Jurors in the case of ex-U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay in Texas ended their first deliberations questioning money-laundering charges filed against him.

A series of notes to Texas District Judge Pat Priest sitting in an Austin courtroom asked whether money laundering could involve transactions that were legal at first, which defense attorney Dick DeGuerin said he took as a good sign, the Austin American-Statesman reported Tuesday.

"It shows the confusion," DeGuerin said. "It's a very good sign."

DeLay, a Republican, was indicted in 2005 on charges he illegally channeled $190,000 in corporate money through the Republican National Committee to help elect GOP candidates in Texas. DeLay has said the case was motivated by politics.

If convicted of the charges of money-laundering and conspiracy to commit money-laundering, DeLay could be sentenced up to 99 years in prison and fined up to $10,000.

Priest said he was concerned about how to answer the jury's questions about money laundering without commenting on evidence in the case, the American-Statesman said. He delayed a decision on answering until Tuesday, when the jury was to begin its second day of deliberations.