Senior US Republican politician Tom DeLay has turned himself in to a Texas court where he was charged with conspiracy and money-laundering.
Accompanied by his lawyer, Dick DeGuerin, the former House majority leader showed up about midday, appeared before a judge and was gone in less than 30 minutes.
Mr DeLay was fingerprinted, photographed and released on $10,000 bail.
"Now Ronnie Earle has the mugshot he wanted," Mr DeGuerin said, referring to the Travis County district attorney who brought the charges. Mr DeLay and his lawyer have accused the district attorney of trying to make headlines for himself.
The Texas Republican is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Friday in Austin. The charges forced DeLay to give up his House leadership post.
The defence asked Judge Bob Perkins to step aside and for the trial to be moved out of Travis County. Mr Perkins has donated to causes and people opposed to Mr DeLay, and his impartiality might be questioned, the motion said.
Mr Earle said he would oppose the motion to move the trial, and criticised the request that the judge step aside.
Mr DeLay had been expected to turn himself in in his home county outside Houston, Fort Bend, but under Texas law, he could check in anywhere in the state.
Mr DeLay and two political associates are charged in an alleged scheme to funnel corporate donations to candidates for the Texas Legislature. State law prohibits donations of corporate money for direct campaign purposes.