BNA:

The conviction of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) on conspiracy and money laundering charges was unconstitutional, his attorneys contend in a brief filed with a state appeals court Aug. 11 (DeLay v. TexasTex. App., 3d Dist.,No. 03-11-0087-CR,filed 8/11/11).

The 124-page merits brief filed in the Texas Court of Appeals, Third District, argues that the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 130 S.Ct. 876 (2010)(2683 Money & Politics Report, 1/22/10), invalidates Texas Election Code Sections 253.003 and 253.094, which restrict corporate campaign contributions. The brief sets out seven additional points of error, including legal insufficiency on both the conspiracy and money laundering counts.