05:27 PM CDT on Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Associated Press

AUSTIN -- A lawyer for an indicted associate of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay wants a judge in Austin to throw out the charges.

Court documents filed Tuesday say the charges against Republican fund-raiser Jim Ellis are a result of "outrageous government conduct."

The motion also calls the case by Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle a "grim spectacle of a prosecutor run amok, intent on indicting his political opponents at any cost."

It accuses Earle of targeting Ellis and John Colyandro because they're Republicans with ties to DeLay.

Earle's office declined comment on the document offered by San Antonio attorney J.D. Pauerstein.

The charges stem from allegations that a Texas political committee DeLay founded illegally funneled corporate money into 2002 legislative races.

DeLay, Ellis and Colyandro deny wrongdoing.