US: Former Republican leader Tom DeLay's hopes of an early return as House leader have received a setback after a Texas judge put off a decision on how to proceed with conspiracy and money laundering charges.
Mr DeLay wants the charges dropped as soon as possible but judge Pat Priest said he would not decide for another two weeks and that, if a trial went ahead, it would probably not start until next year.
Earlier this week Michael Scanlon, a former senior aide to Mr DeLay, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bribe a member of Congress and other public officials. Mr Scanlon admitted that he and his former business partner, Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, gave lavish gifts to officials, including expenses-paid trips to Europe, in return for official actions that benefited their clients.
Mr Abramoff, who is under investigation for defrauding Indian tribes of tens of millions of dollars in consulting fees, had links with dozens of congressmen and senior Bush administration figures.
Prosecutors say that Mr Abramoff talked his Indian tribe clients in Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi and Texas into hiring Mr Scanlon's public relations firm. Mr Scanlon would then bill the tribes for his services at hugely inflated prices and give Mr Abramoff a 50 per cent kickback.
They are alleged to have split, after expenses, nearly $40 million (€34 million) in profits.
Mr Scanlon agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy and to co-operate with the Justice Department in the corruption investigation. He also promised to pay $19.7 million in restitution to the tribes and he could yet serve a prison sentence of up to five years.
Mr Scanlon's guilty plea gives prosecutors a witness who may be able to provide evidence that lawmakers worked to pass legislation in exchange for favours.
Court papers say that Mr Abramoff and Mr Scanlon gave one lawmaker a trip to Scotland, campaign funds and other favours. They received help in return, including assistance in securing a contract for an Abramoff client to install wireless equipment in the US Capitol, according to the charges.
Representative Robert Nye, an Ohio Republican, took a 2002 golf trip to Scotland paid for by Mr Abramoff and had responsibility as chairman of the House Administration Committee for the Capitol's telephone infrastructure.
Mr Ney denies doing anything wrong and claims that Mr Abramoff deceived him about who was paying for the golfing trip.
The court papers say that Mr Ney issued a statement drafted by Mr Scanlon criticising the owner of a Florida gaming company that Mr Abramoff hoped to buy on favourable terms. When Mr Abramoff's partners succeeded in buying the gaming company, Mr Ney placed a second statement in the Congressional Record praising the new owners.
Mr DeLay, who once called Mr Abramoff one of his "closest and dearest friends", has admitted accepting paid trips from the lobbyist but insisted he thought other sources paid for them.
Christian Coalition founder Ralph Reed and anti-tax activist Grover Norquist are among the senior Republican figures who are alleged to have been drawn into Mr Abramoff's network of influence.
"What sets this tale apart, what makes it truly extraordinary, is the extent and degree of the apparent exploitation and deceit," Senator John McCain told a hearing on the defrauding of the Indian tribes.