DeLay Prosecutor Plays Hardball

Ronnie Earle, the Texas DA who recently indicted former House majority leader Tom DeLay, won a round today. After DeLay's team succeeded in a motion to remove the original trial judge from the case because he had given money to Democratic-oriented political groups, Earle submitted a motion today to keep that judge's superior from choosing a replacement - because the superior judge has given money to Republican candidates.

In his motion, Earle wrote that he believed Judge B.B. Schraub, the superior judge, to be "completely fair and impartial, with a sterling reputation of honesty and integrity. However, as the recusal of Judge Perkins reflected, such is unfortunately no longer the standard in our state for the judiciary."

Judge Schraub agreed to Earle's motion, and said he will ask the chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court to name a judge to preside over DeLay's trial.

In other scandal-related news today, Scooter Libby pleaded not guilty to the charges against him in the CIA leak investigation. Outside the courtroom, Libby's lawyer said "In pleading not guilty he has declared to the world that he is innocent. He has declared that intends to fight the charges in the indictment, and he has declared that he wants to clear his good name."