Wednesday, September 28, 2005
BREAKING NEWS: Tom DeLay Indicted!
Tom DeLay is Majority Leader no more. (Houston Chronicle photo)
As my sources predicted earlier this week, a Travis County, Texas, Grand Jury, on the last day of its session, has indicted Congressman Tom DeLay. He and two associates were indicted on a felony conspiracy charge related to contributions during the 2002 campaign cycle.
As the Associated Press reports:
DeLay attorney Steve Brittain said DeLay was accused of a criminal conspiracy along with two associates, John Colyandro, former executive director of a Texas political action committee formed by DeLay, and Jim Ellis, who heads DeLay's national political committee.
The indictment against the second-ranking, and most assertive Republican leader came on the final day of the grand jury's term. It followed earlier indictments of a state political action committee founded by DeLay and three of his political associates.
As this is written, DeLay has just announced his resignation as House Majority Leader. Republicans had tried to keep his resignation from happening, but had to reinstate the ethics rules that require it in January.
Again, the Associated Press reports:
As a sign of loyalty to DeLay after the grand jury returned indictments against three of his associates, House Republicans last November repealed a rule requiring any of their leaders to step aside if indicted. The rule was reinstituted in January after lawmakers returned to Washington from the holidays fearing the repeal might create a backlash from voters.
DeLay's spinmeisters are already accusing Travis County, Texas, District Attorney Ronnie Earle of leading a partisan witchhunt. It's a charge they've made before, but haven't been able to make stick. Earle is constitutionally required to investigate and prosecute unethical behavior by Texas public officials. A Democrat himself, Earle has prosecuted about three times as many Democrats as he has Republicans.
Stay tuned.
