House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) denied any wrongdoing for an overseas trip indirectly funded by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and a gaming firm

DeLay said the trip had nothing to do with his stance on a Internet gaming bill opposed by the tribe and eLottery Inc. He said he voted against the bill because it contained loopholes to allow certain forms of online transactions.

DeLay disclosed that the trip was funded by the National Center for Public Policy Research. But the center said disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, a member of the board, secured the financing.

The Internet gaming bill has since been revised to ban all forms of online gaming but it exempts "any lawful transaction with a business license or authorized by a state." The National Indian Gaming Association says this provision is unfair because it doesn't treat tribes equally.

Get the Story:
DeLay Defends Trip and Vote, Attacks Critics (The Washington Post 3/16)
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DeLay Rebuts Accusations He Violated Travel Rules (The New York Times 3/16)
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With DeLay in the Spotlight, Republicans Feeling the Heat (The Los Angeles Times 3/16)
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DeLay defends paid trips (AP 3/16)

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