http://www.news8austin.com/content/headlines/275289/local-blogger-sees-both-sides--hammer--it-out-in-delay-trial

The political corruption trial of former Congressman Tom DeLay is days away from being over.

Local blogger Chris Glenn has watched both sides argue their case in front of a Travis County jury for the past three weeks.

DeLay has been fighting criminal charges in Travis County since 2005, when the district attorney’s office indicted him for political money laundering.

DeLay has maintained he handled his business on the right side of the law.

"I think the definition of money laundering has been debated during the trial," Glenn said.

During his time in the courtroom, Glenn has observed the legal wrangling many people believe has become a political battlefield.

"I learned a lot," Glenn said. "I absorbed a lot of information in three and a half weeks."

Glenn says his interest in DeLay’s case stems from his broader interest in money and politics.

The blogger has seen a lot of evidence presented in DeLay’s trial, enough to make his own conclusions about whether or not the former house majority leader is guilty of money laundering.

Glenn says the fact that Texans for a Republican Majority, or TRMPAC, funded House seats and other candidates around the state is a sign that dirty politics may have been at play. TRMPAC was a political action committee created by DeLay.

"I think the average donation to TRMPAC-supported candidates was $28,000 and the other contributions to other legislative candidates around the country was $520,” Glenn said. "I think it's suspicious."

Suspicious enough for the D.A.'s office to indict DeLay, bring him to trial and present 11 days of evidence before a Travis County jury.

DeLay says a Democratic stronghold in Travis County and back-to-back Democratic district attorneys are playing payback politics for his role in the 2003 redistricting battle.

"It's really sad that the Democrats have now turned to criminalization of politics," DeLay said. "And that undermines our whole system, our democracy. It undermines our elections. It undermines everything."

For the prosecution, it's DeLay’s violation of law that put him in the judicial hot seat.

"It's not politics, it's a crime,” Assistant District Attorney Gary Cobb said. “And he did what every criminal does when they are caught. They try and point the finger elsewhere."

For Glenn, he has had a front-row seat to see both sides 'hammer' out their case in front of the jury.

"I think he deserves to be convicted of both charges," Glenn said.

Closing arguments begin Monday.