From the National Journal Early Bird News:

Courts: Abramoff Cuts Deal; Subpoenas Issued In DeLay Case

DeLay has officially filed for the March 7 GOP primary.

For a peek into the Judge Pat Priest's chambers, read the report in the Austin American-Statesman on how he has apologized in a previously confidential email to Tom DeLay's legal team and prosecutors about the "very confused state" of the trial.

The conservative Free Enterprise Fund plans to fight subpoenas from Ronnie Earle, reports The Hill, although they have not been officially served yet. (Earle sent them courtesy copies). The group has run ads in Austin featuring a barking Rottweiler dog, with the narrative, "A prosecutor with a political agenda can be vicious." Earle is likely planning to argue that the group deliberately tainted the Travis County jury pool.

With talk of new leadership elections swirling around the House, DeLay’s lawyers are trying to get his trial put back on the "fast track." Because of a cancelled hearing scheduled for the 27th and an appeal request by prosecutors, the proceedings and build up to the trial could drag on for weeks even months--which wouldn't bode well for the Hammer.

DeLay's lawyers are asking for the transcripts from the second grand jury proceedings. They're alleging that there was "prosecutorial misconduct" by Ronnie Earle.

The transcripts are "secret" and Earle does not have to release them unless ordered by a court. More from the AP.

Fired Up Missouri reports that Texas prosecutors are examining campaign finance records of Gov. Matt Blunt for the year 2000. Previous news reports have said that Prosecutor Ronnie Earle was looking at records for ARMPAC; Roy Blunt's leadership PAC, the Rely on Your Beliefs Fund, and the Missouri Republian Party. It appears that the net is now wider than that.

The Houston Chronicle and the San Diego Union-Tribune (among others) is reporting that Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle is looking into Tom DeLay's connection to a prominent poltical donor from California. The donor, Brent Wilkes, is one of the four defense contractors accused of bribing former Representative Duke Cunningham.

Tom DeLay must be rethinking the adage that all publicity is good publicity. He makes the nation's front pages again today, as newspapers report on the Supreme Court's decision to take up the Texas redistricting case.

The AP reported yesterday that prosecutors asked Judge Pat Priest not to let Rep. Tom DeLay's trial begin because they plan to appeal the judge's dismissal of one of the three campaign finance charges against him. If Judge Priest agrees, that makes it tough for DeLay to regain his leadership seat in January.