A former top aide to Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) has pled guilty today to "aiding and abetting the bribery of a public official and conspiracy" according to AP.

This has no place in Congress. Rep. Jefferson ought to come clean.

Nancy just wrote up the decision by the (all-Republican) court of appeals in Texas to reject's DeLay request for a speedy trial below.

This begs the question, as a colleague just suggested to me: Did the Court tell DeLay on Friday of its decision, thereby pushing DeLay to issue his statement on Saturday that he wouldn't seek to return to his leadership position?

This just in from the AP:

The [Texas] highest criminal court on Monday denied Rep. Tom DeLay's request that the money laundering charges against him be dismissed or be sent back to a lower court for an immediate trial...

DeLay and his attorneys had been trying to rush to trial in Texas in hopes of clearing his name and allowing him to regain the position. That changed Saturday, though, when DeLay announced he would not attempt to reclaim the job.

Much of the DeLay news today centers around the leadership race, which so far is pitting Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio against Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo. Here's the NYT on the subject; according to this report, Rep.

From the Houston Chronicle story:

DeLay told the Chronicle Saturday that in recent days he discussed his situation with GOP leaders, including Hastert, and considered several options, including resigning from Congress.

It'll be messy:

229 Members of the 109th Congress took $2,381,328 from Tom DeLay’s ARMPAC.

From his website:

U.S. Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) today issued the following statement regarding the announcement by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX):

Mark Schmitt catches the key phrase from DeLay's separate letter to Hastert:

I will also be reclaiming my seat on the Appropriations Committee when the second session of the 109th Congress convenes later this month.

Louisiana Republican Rep. Jim McCrery says it's likely Bob Ney will be indicted.

It's news when someone states the obvious?!?

Here it is:

Dear Colleague:

Today, I have asked Speaker Hastert to convene our conference for the purpose of electing a new majority leader, the position I have been honored to fill these past three years through the trust and confidence of our colleagues.