AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep Tom DeLay, R-Texas, refused to plead guilty to a misdemeanor that would have allowed him to remain House majority leader, a report said.
DeLay's attorneys Monday disclosed the plea agreement offer from Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, which DeLay rejected before he was indicted on felony money laundering charges, The Washington Post reported.
DeLay has claimed Earle intended to force him out of the House leadership post.
DeLay's lawyers filed a series of motions Monday in advance of the powerful Texas Republican's arraignment Friday in Austin on charges of laundering corporate donations to fund Texas GOP campaigns.
Attorneys asked DeLay's trial be separated from co-defendants James Ellis and John Colyandro so DeLay's innocence or guilt can be resolved quickly.
"The right thing, the courageous thing, for you to do is to admit you were wrong and dismiss the case right away," lead attorney Dick DeGuerin said in a letter to Earle.
DeLay's attorneys also asked to throw out the Oct. 3 indictment against DeLay, saying the transactions did not violate Texas law.
