Convicted ex-US House Majority Leader Tom DeLay to argue his case before appeals court

AUSTIN, Texas – Former U.S. House Majority Leader and GOP heavyweight Tom DeLay is getting ready to make his case to an appeals court that his 2010 conviction for taking part in a scheme to influence Texas elections should be overturned.

Attorneys for DeLay, who once held the No. 2 job in the House of Representatives, and the Travis County District Attorney's Office were set to make oral arguments Wednesday in Austin before the 3rd Court of Appeals.

DeLay's three-year prison sentence has been on hold as his case has been on appeal.

The former Houston-area congressman has long maintained he was the victim of a politically motivated prosecution.

Prosecutors with the Travis County District Attorney's Office say their case against DeLay was never about politics.