[JURIST] US Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX) [official website, JURIST news archive] was ordered on Thursday to appear in a Texas court on October 21 for his initial appearance in connection with charges that he violated Texas election law [JURIST report]. DeLay is accused [indictment text, PDF] of conspiring to use corporate donations to support candidates for the Texas legislature; state law allows corporate donations to be used only for administrative expenses. Indictments were earlier issued against associates of DeLay [JURIST report]. DeLay attacked the indictment in interviews Thursday, saying that he thought prosecutors were convinced that he had not participated in any wrongdoing and categorized the indictment as politically motivated. Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle [official website] denied any such motivation and pointed out that he has prosecuted more Democrats than Republicans. AP has more.