Conviction of ex-US House leader DeLay's tossed  PAUL J. WEBER,
Associated Press  AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas appeals court
tossed the criminal conviction of former U.S. House Majority
Leader Tom DeLay on Thursday, saying there was insufficient
evidence for a jury in 2010 to have found him guilty of
illegally funneling money to Republican candidates.  The Texas
3rd Court of Appeals said prosecutors failed to prove that the
money being laundered was illegally obtained, which the court
said was required for a money laundering conviction. Prosecutors
alleged that DeLay illegally channel $190,000 in corporate
donations though his political action committee and into Texas
legislative races, where corporate money is barred.  "The
fundamental problem with the State's case was its failure to
prove proceeds of criminal activity," the court wrote in a 2-1
decision.  Justices on the appeals court suggested that even
jurors appeared confused during deliberations, based on
questions they asked about whether the charge re