AUSTIN – Former Republican US House majority leader Tom DeLay, once dubbed “The Hammer” for his autocratic style, has been found guilty of money laundering and conspiracy.
DeLay was accused of conspiring to funnel $190,000 in campaign donations to Republican candidates to the Texas legislature in the 2002 elections.
“The public officials people elect to represent them must do so honestly and ethically and if not they will be held accountable,” said Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg.
DeLay faces five to 99 years in prison for the money laundering conviction and two to 20 years for a conspiracy count as well, plus fines. He is free on bond until his sentencing in a Texas state court on December 20th. Mr DeLay indicated he would appeal.
“This is an abuse of power, it is a miscarriage of justice. I am very disappointed. But it is what it is . . . and we will carry on. Hopefully we can get this before people who understand the law,” DeLay said after the jury gave its verdict on Wednesday.
A former owner of a pest control company, DeLay was elected to the House of Representatives in 1984 and rose quickly through the ranks, earning a reputation as a master vote-counter and prolific fundraiser.
In 1994, DeLay was part of “The Republican Revolution” that won control of the House for the first time in 40 years. He then got the job of House majority whip, making him the chamber’s third- ranking Republican.
DeLay assembled a political machine that churned out narrow and largely partisan victories on legislation from tax cuts to easing federal regulations.
He resigned in disgrace from the US House of Representatives in 2006, 12 years after helping Republicans win control of the chamber for the first time in four decades.
He had stepped down as majority leader the previous year when indicted in Texas on campaign finance charges.
He then resigned from Congress amid allegations of links with Jack Abramoff, a former Republican lobbyist snared in a federal investigation of influence peddling on Capitol Hill. Two of DeLay’s ex-aides pleaded guilty to corruption.
During a six-day period in 2004, DeLay was admonished by the House ethics committee on three separate matters – a 2002 fundraiser that it said gave the appearance of donors getting special access; enlisting the help of a federal agency in a Texas political spat and offering a political favour to a member in an effort to win passage of a prescription drug bill. – (Reuters)