AUSTIN, Texas — Former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay — once one of the most powerful and feared Republicans in Congress — was convicted Wednesday on charges he illegally funneled corporate money to Texas candidates in 2002.
Jurors deliberated for 19 hours before returning guilty verdicts against DeLay on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He faces up to life in prison on the money laundering charge.
After the verdicts were read, DeLay hugged his daughter, Danielle, and his wife, Christine. There was no immediate comment from him or his attorneys.
Prosecutors said DeLay, who once held the No. 2 job in the House of Representatives and whose heavy-handed style earned him the nickname "the Hammer," used his political action committee to illegally channel $190,000 in corporate donations into 2002 Texas legislative races through a money swap.
DeLay and his attorneys maintained the former Houston-area congressman did nothing wrong as no corporate funds went to Texas candidates and the money swap was legal.
The verdict came after a three-week trial in which prosecutors presented more than 30 witnesses and volumes of e-mails and other documents. DeLay's attorneys presented five witnesses.
Prosecutors said DeLay conspired with two associates, John Colyandro and Jim Ellis, to use his Texas-based PAC to send $190,000 in corporate money to an arm of the Washington-based Republican National Committee, or RNC. The RNC then sent the same amount to seven Texas House candidates. Under Texas law, corporate money can't go directly to political campaigns.
Prosecutors claim the money helped Republicans take control of the Texas House. That enabled the GOP majority to push through a Delay-engineered congressional redistricting plan that sent more Texas Republicans to Congress in 2004 — and strengthened DeLay's political power.
is that it knocked him out of any chance to run for POTUS. I had always feared we would have a Delay/Hillary slate in 2008, our actual choices were no better, but I was able to hold my nose and vote for McCain. I would not have been able to vote for Delay under any circumstances, not even against Obama.
is that it knocked him out of any chance to run for POTUS. I had always feared we would have a Delay/Hillary slate in 2008, our actual choices were no better, but I was able to hold my nose and vote for McCain. I would not have been able to vote for Delay under any circumstances, not even against Obama.
But I agree I could never vote for him as President
Brad was simply pointing out the idiocy of the OP, anybody with half a brain knows neither side has a monopoly on corruption. The Democrats certainly have their share, and only a idiot, blinded by partisanship truly thinks one side is more corrupt than the other.
Even Priapus will admit, both parties are filled with liars and thieves.
"Brad was simply pointing out the idiocy of the OP, anybody with half a brain knows neither side has a monopoly on corruption. The Democrats certainly have their share, and only a idiot, blinded by partisanship truly thinks one side is more corrupt than the other."
So you read all of that in his short message. I saw nowhere, in that post, nor in his post about why Republican men are happier that Democratic men, that he wasn't "blinded by partisanship." And, I think his response to you doesn't do anything strengthen your case.
I thought the article I linked pointed out the difference in the seriousness of being charged with ethics violations in Congress vs. having criminal charges brought against someone.
BTW, I'm glad that Rangel got his due, and I'm quite certain that he's even guilty of worse. But, I do find it curious why the Republicans want to do away with the same committee that charged, and found him guilty, especially if they believe there are a lot more Democrats who are guilty of ethics violations. Unless of course, they don't want their own dirty laundry exposed. Just speculating of course.
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