BREAKING NEWS ~ Tom DeLay indicted in campaign finance investigation News
BREAKING NEWS ~ Tom DeLay indicted in campaign finance investigation

[JURIST] AP is reporting that a Texas grand jury has issued an indictment for US House Majority Leader Tom DeLay [official website]. Earlier this month, an indictment was issued [JURIST report] against a political action committee formed by DeLay and a Texas business group on charges relating to campaign contributions for DeLay's 2002 congressional campaign. Subsequently, two campaign group officials were charged [JURIST report] with violating Texas election law and criminal conspiracy to violate the election law.

12:49 PM ET – According to his lawyer, DeLay has been charged with criminal conspiracy along with John Colyandro, the former executive director of Texans for a Republican Majority [Wikipedia backgrounder], and Jim Ellis, the head of DeLay's national political committee. Under Texas state law the charge is a felony punishable by up to two years in prison. According to House Republican party rules, DeLay will be forced to temporarily step down from his leadership post. AP has more.

1:36 PM ET – The indictment [PDF text] is now available, via FindLaw.

2:53 PM ET – In a statement Wednesday, DeLay said that he has "done nothing wrong" and will be cleared of all allegations. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.