Posted on August 25, 2010 at 5:54 PM

http://www.kvue.com/news/DeLay-to-have-money-laundering-trial-in-Travis-County-101514829.html

A judge ruled that former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay will have his money laundering trial in Travis County.

On Wednesday the defense called multiple witnesses, both Republicans and Democrats, who testified DeLay cannot get a fair trial in Travis County.

Austin based pollster Marc DelSignore told the court about a weekend telephone survey that found 59 percent of registered Travis County voters have a negative opinion of DeLay. He testified that 40 percent believe he is guilty of money laundering.

“The amount of name awareness for Tom DeLay in Travis County is much higher than you would expect for someone who has not been in office for five years, and who never represented Travis County,” DelSignore said outside the courtroom after he took the stand.

Prosecutors said the poll is not worth the paper it is written on, and the poll’s credibility cannot be trusted.

DeLay’s attorney, Dick DeGuerin, said negative opinions in Travis County stem from liberal news coverage.

“I think the poll is very accurate and that’s why we are so concerned. All we want is a fair trial, and we want a trial of jurors who aren’t affected by the unrelenting bad publicity of Tom DeLay in Travis County,” said DeGuerin.

Prosecutors say DeLay funneled $190,000 of campaign contributions to Texas Republican politicians.

DeLay’s two former aides, John Colyandro and James Ellis, are facing lesser charges of election code violations. On Tuesday, Presiding Judge Pat Priest said they would not be tried with Delay.