A Texas grand jury on Monday indicted US Rep. Tom DeLay on two new charges, including money laundering, just days after a conspiracy indictment concerning campaign finance forced him to step down as the second-ranking Republican in the US House of Representatives.

The new indictments, for money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, accused DeLay and his two political associates of funneling 190,000 US dollars in corporate contributions to his Texans for a Republican Majority through the Republican National Committee for distribution to candidates for the Texas Legislature in 2002.

Texas law forbids the use of corporate money in political campaigns.

DeLay, who could face up to life in prison if convicted, denied all charges and denounced the latest indictment as an "abomination of justice.

Representing a Houston district, DeLay has been US House of Representatives Majority Leader from 2002 until last week a Texas grand jury issued the first indictment accusing him and two political associates of conspiring to violate Texas campaign finance laws..

For the House Republican rules, DeLay quit the leadership post in the House, where he had played a key role in passing President George W. Bush's agenda including tax cuts and a prescription drug benefit for older Americans.

The 11-term congressman was also admonished last year by the House ethics committee on three separate issues and was also at the center of a political storm this year over payment of his and other lawmakers' trips abroad by lobbyists.

Source: Xinhua