COLUMBIA--South Carolina's congressional delegation rallied to support Republican Tom DeLay on Wednesday, as the state's Democratic Party called on one member to return contributions from a recent fundraiser that featured the embattled U.S. House majority leader.

DeLay was indicted in his home state of Texas on Wednesday for one criminal count of conspiring with two political aides to violate the state's campaign finance laws. From his office in Washington, DeLay dismissed the charges, saying it was the product of a political witchhunt by the district attorney in Travis County.

South Carolina's GOP delegation defended their leader.

"By issuing an indictment today against Mr. DeLay, Liberal Democrat Ronnie Earle is demonstrating politics at its worst and is continuing his personal vendetta against Republican leaders," said Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., naming the district attorney in a prepared statement. "I am confident that Congressman DeLay will also be vindicated from this blatant, partisan attack."

Wilson has stood by DeLay, which made him the target for an attack by the South Carolina Democratic Party.

Lachlan McIntosh, executive director of the state Democratic Party, called on Wilson to return contributions collected at an Aug. 19 fundraiser in Hilton Head that featured DeLay.

"Joe Wilson should have never invited Tom DeLay and his cronies to South Carolina in the first place," McIntosh said. "Joe Wilson needs to remove the cloud over his reputation and give the dirty DeLay money back."

Wilson did not respond to the Democrat's demand. At the time of the event, Wilson brushed off the notion that DeLay's presence would taint the golfing fundraiser.

DeLay has given federal contributions to every Republican member of the state's delegation except U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis from his national political leadership committee. Those donations are not in question because they are federal dollars and DeLay was indicted for violating Texas' campaign finance laws.

While Wilson assailed the accusations, Rep. Henry Brown, a Charleston Republican, was more cautious in his defense of DeLay.

"The presumption of innocence is a cornerstone of our justice system," Brown said. "Congressman DeLay will have every opportunity to present his defense against these charges in the proper venue."