Tom Delay Indicted

[SuzeQuze]

That's all I know. It was just reported by Al Franken as breaking news.

[GypsySorcerer]

They mentioned it as breaking news here on the noon news, but didn't give more info.

[dissention]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washing...tigation_x.htm

DeLay defense fears more indictments as jury wraps up

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Texas grand jury on Wednesday charged Rep. Tom DeLay and two political associates with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme, an indictment that could force him to step down as House majority leader.

House GOP rules require any member of the elected leadership to step down temporarily if indicted, and it would be up to the rank and file to select an interim replacement. Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., could make a recommendation, whether choosing to elevate another member of the leadership or tapping an alternative to reduce the possibility of a struggle if DeLay were cleared and then sought to reclaim his post.

Lawyers with knowledge of the case said the DeLay defense team was concerned that the Travis County grand jury might consider counts of conspiracy to violate the state election code.

Their concern was triggered when similar charges were handed down two weeks ago in an expanded indictment against two DeLay political associates. The associates were accused of conspiring to violate the state election code by using corporate donations for illegal purposes.

The Associated Press spoke to several lawyers familiar with the case, all of whom requested anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. DeLay, R-Texas, said Tuesday that prosecutors have interviewed him. He has insisted he committed no crimes and says Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, a Democrat, was pursuing the case for political reasons.

Before the recent conspiracy counts, the investigation was more narrowly focused on the state election code. By expanding the charges to include conspiracy, prosecutors made it possible for the grand jury to bring charges against DeLay. Otherwise, the grand jury would have lacked jurisdiction under state laws.

Asked Tuesday what he had heard of any late developments, DeLay said Tuesday, "Not a word."

He also said he earlier "had an interview" with prosecutors, adding, "everybody knows that."

The 11-term congressman has served as No. 2 in the House GOP leadership for three years, credited with maintaining iron discipline within the party and keeping Republicans in control of the chamber. He has retained the loyalty of most party members despite running into ethical problems last year. In a rare rebuke of a House leader, the House ethics committee admonished DeLay three times for pressuring a fellow congressman, involving the Federal Aviation Administration in a political dispute and discussing energy legislation with lobbyists at a golf outing. (Related story: Men with ties to lobbyist Abramoff nabbed in businessman's death)

The grand jury's finale coincides with a wide swath of political trouble for the GOP. Ethical questions have been raised about stock sales by the Republican leader of the Senate, Bill Frist, R-Tenn. And President Bush, an uneasy ally of DeLay, faces the lowest approval ratings of his presidency. (Related story: Ex-Bush official charged with concealing Abramoff ties)

The Texas grand jury has charged that corporate donations given to Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee — formed by DeLay — were used to support state candidates in violation of state law. Texas law prohibits corporate money to be used to advocate the election or defeat of candidates; it is allowed only for administrative expenses. (Related story: Political action committees face 5 felony indictments)

Once DeLay helped Republicans win control of the state Legislature in 2002, the majority leader engineered a Republican redistricting plan that helped give the state's U.S. House delegation a 21-11 majority in the current Congress. The effort helped Republicans increase their House margin by five seats this year.

Three of DeLay's political associates, the PAC itself, several corporate donors and a Texas business organization have been indicted, while DeLay has not.

On Sept. 13, the grand jury re-indicted two of the associates, Jim Ellis and John Colyandro. The new charges included the criminal conspiracy counts. (Related story: Jury probes DeLay associates on felony charges)

The legal sources said that if the case had remained solely under the state election code, DeLay could only be indicted in his home county, Fort Bend.

The grand jury has charged that Texans for a Republican Majority and the Texas Association of Business worked together to circumvent the election code and funnel "massive amounts of secret corporate wealth" into campaigns, said Earle, the Travis County prosecutor.

Ellis heads DeLay's national political committee, Americans for a Republican Majority. Colyandro is former executive director of Texans for a Republican Majority. They had been indicted previously on charges of laundering $190,000 in corporate donations.

The conspiracy counts against Ellis and Colyandro could bring a punishment of 180 days to 2 years and a fine of up to $10,000.

[Brwn_eyes0511]

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/09/28/D8CTCDQGD.html

DeLay Indicted in Campaign Finance Probe
Sep 28 12:37 PM US/Eastern


WASHINGTON


A Texas grand jury on Wednesday charged Rep. Tom DeLay and two political associates with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme, an indictment that could force him to step down as House majority leader.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by Brwn_eyes0511

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/09/28/D8CTCDQGD.html

DeLay Indicted in Campaign Finance Probe
Sep 28 12:37 PM US/Eastern


WASHINGTON


A Texas grand jury on Wednesday charged Rep. Tom DeLay and two political associates with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme, an indictment that could force him to step down as House majority leader.

Never in a million years did I think I'd see you link to a site owned by a man who's partners with Arianna Huffington for Huffington Post.

[SuzeQuze]

Is it wrong that this indictment makes me want to do a jig? I'm not proud of that!

[Brwn_eyes0511]

Originally Posted by dissention

Never in a million years did I think I'd see you link to a site owned by a man who's partners with Arianna Huffington for Huffington Post.

If its at the drudge report...

[DavidMn]

ding dong Delay is dead

[irishgrl]

this was in my mailbox (and may I say ITS ABOUT TIME!)
The following is from Associated Press reporter Larry Margasak -- A Texas grand jury on Wednesday charged Rep. Tom DeLay and two political associates with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme, forcing the House of Representatives majority leader to temporarily relinquish his post.

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.

"I have notified the speaker that I will temporarily step aside from my position as majority leader pursuant to rules of the House Republican Conference and the actions of the Travis County district attorney today," DeLay said.

Republican congressional officials said Speaker Dennis Hastert will recommend that Rep. David Dreier of California step into those duties. Some of the duties may go to the Republican Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri. The Republican rank and file may meet as early as Wednesday night to act on Hastert's recommendation.

However, DeLay retains his seat representing Texas' 22nd congressional district, suburbs southwest of Houston.

The charge carries a potential two-year sentence, which forces DeLay to step down under House Republican rules.

"The defendants entered into an agreement with each other or with TRMPAC (Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee) to make a political contribution in violation of the Texas election code," says the four-page indictment. "The contribution was made directly to the Republican National Committee within 60 days of a general election."

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.

Kevin Madden, DeLay's spokesman, dismissed the charge as politically motivated.

"This indictment is nothing more than prosecutorial retribution by a partisan Democrat," Madden said, citing prosecutor Ronnie Earle, a Democrat.

"We regret the people of Texas will once again have their taxpayer dollars wasted on Ronnie Earle's pursuit of headlines and political paybacks."

The grand jury action is expected to have immediate consequences in the House, where DeLay is largely responsible for winning passage of the Republican legislative program. House Republican Party rules require leaders who are indicted to temporarily step aside from their leadership posts.

DeLay has denied committing any crime and accused the Democratic district attorney leading the investigation, Ronnie Earle, of pursuing the case for political motives.

Democrats have kept up a crescendo of criticism of DeLay's ethics, citing three times last year that the House ethics committee admonished DeLay for his conduct.

Earlier, DeLay attorney Bill White told reporters, "It's a skunky indictment if they have one."

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, 58, also is the center of an ethics swirl in Washington. The 11-term congressman was admonished last year by the House ethics committee on three separate issues and is the center of a political storm this year over lobbyists paying his and other lawmakers' tabs for expensive travel abroad.

Wednesday's indictment stems from a plan DeLay helped set in motion in 2001 to help Republicans win control of the Texas House in the 2002 elections for the first time in decades.

A state political action committee he created, Texans for a Republican Majority, was indicted earlier this month on charges of accepting corporate contributions for use in state legislative races. Texas law prohibits corporate money from being used to advocate the election or defeat of candidates; it is allowed only for administrative expenses.

With Republican control of the Texas legislature, DeLay then engineered a redistricting plan that enabled the Republicans to take six Texas seats in the U.S. House away from Democrats - including one lawmaker switching parties - in 2004 and build its majority in Congress.
*************
Republicans select Rep. Roy Blunt to become temporary House majority leader after Texas grand jury charges DeLay with criminal conspiracy.
– William Branigin, Amy Goldstein, R. Jeffrey Smith 5:09 p.m. ET
*************

and the next sound you hear (hopefully) will be the sound of Rove getting the guillotine........followed by Monkey boy and The Organ Grinder.

[Brwn_eyes0511]

There is already a thread about this.

[irishgrl]

oops, didnt see it and I looked too~!

[Brwn_eyes0511]

Originally Posted by irishgrl

oops, didnt see it and I looked too~!

I could have sworn there was a thread about this already when the news first broke!

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by Brwn_eyes0511

I could have sworn there was a thread about this already when the news first broke!

there is one, I didnt look far enuff down....and now I cant even delete it...sorry

[strandinthewind]

Poor delay - maybe some of those same black people who "kept" him from serving his country in Vietnam will show him a great time in jail - a$$hole