DeLay indicted in campaign finance probe
House majority leader, two associates face criminal conspiracy charge
BREAKING NEWS
NBC News and news services
Updated: 1:07 p.m. ET Sept. 28, 2005
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9507677/ (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9507677/)
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.
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.
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.
“It’s a skunky indictment if they have one,†DeLay attorney Bill White told reporters before the indictment was handed down. “Like a dead skunk in the middle of the road. It stinks to high heaven.â€
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.
According to the Associated Press, Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.,will recommend that Congressman David Dreier, R-Calif., will take over DeLay's duties.
DeLay associates indicted last year
DeLay, who represents a Houston-area district, has been under investigation by Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle for possible illegal fund-raising and use of corporate funds by his Texans for a Republican Majority committee, or TRMPAC.
Texas law generally prohibits corporate money from campaign activities.
Colyandro, Ellis and Warren Robold were indicted last year in the case and are awaiting trial. They were charged with accepting a total of $600,000 in illegal corporate contributions.
On Sept. 8, TRMPAC and lobby group Texas Association of Business were indicted on charges of illegally funneling corporate donations into the 2002 elections for Texas Legislature.
TRMPAC’s money and expertise helped Republicans win control of the Texas legislature for the first time since the post-Civil War Reconstruction era.
At DeLay’s urging, the legislature then conducted a controversial remapping of congressional districts that resulted in more Republicans from Texas being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
DeLay has repeatedly accused Earle, a Democrat, of conducting a political witch hunt. DeLay met with Earle several weeks ago to explain his limited role in the committee.
The 11-term congressman 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.
The grand jury’s finale coincided 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.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this article
this event is HUGE, people...Delay was the Republican majority leader of the House of Representatives, one of the major players in all they have been doing to the US and the world...the Empire is crumbling, maybe back to the Republic it once was...we can only hope...
BooYah
:shock:
all empires fade
watch the smearing of Ronnie Earl as this unfolds...I have a funny feeling this isn't a slam dunk.