Congressman Tom DeLay has relied on friends for support in the face of felony indictments in Austin, but for his legal strategy, the Republican from Sugar Land has tried to get close to his enemy.

Two members of DeLay's legal team once worked for Travis County district attorney Ronnie Earle.

The Democrat leads the investigation into DeLay's 2002 fund-raising for Republicans and sought the indictments alleging money laundering and conspiracy.

DeLay says he's innocent.

Joe Turner is an alum of Earle's office who's representing John Colyandro, one of DeLay's co-defendants.

Turner says if you've tried a case before with the opposing counsel, you can anticipate the moves they make, how they pick their jury.

They make the same arguments over and over, he says.

DeLay's Austin attorneys Bill White and Steve Brittain worked with Earle and some of his assistants early in their careers.