DeLay Indicted - Again; Ties to Abramoff Also Under Investigation
DeLay Indicted - Again; Ties to Abramoff Also Under Investigation
The Washington Post reports that Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX) has been indicted in Texas on two new charges, brought by a new grand jury on Monday. One count is conspiracy to commit money-laundering, charging that DeLay and his associates "did knowingly, conduct, supervise, and facilitate" the transfer from Texas to Washington DC back to Texas, a violation of the state's money-laundering laws.
According to the Post,
Both money-laundering crimes are more-serious felonies, and the maximum punishment is life in jail. DeLay has been forced by House rules to relinquish his post as majority leader, and the new indictments stand in the way of any quick reinstatement based on any legal flaws in last week's indictment...
Craig McDonald, director of Texans for Public Justice, said that "for a new grand jury to indict DeLay on a day's notice suggests the evidence of his participation is convincing."
Monday was the last day Ronnie Earle could bring this new indictment, because of the Texas statute of limitations on money laundering, according to Bloomberg.
DeLay and two associates, Jim Ellis and John Colyandro, have been accused of accepting $190,000 in corporate money during the 2002 state legislative races, then sending the money to the Republican National Committee, along with a list of candidates to support. The RNC, in a quid pro quo, then contributed $190,000 to Texas legislative candidates, according to the charges. Texas election law prohibits corporate donations for political campaigns.
DeLay was censured by the House ethics committee three times last year. The Houston Chronicle reported Saturday that DeLay has troubles inside the beltway, as well:
Particularly worrisome for DeLay are a federal investigation into the dealings of Jack Abramoff, a lobbyist who had close ties to the Sugar Land Republican, and a House ethics committee examination of DeLay's trips and any other activities with Abramoff...
One of the people who reportedly has been talking with federal investigators probing Abramoff is Michael Scanlon, a former DeLay aide who later became a business associate of Abramoff in deals that led to the alleged bilking of $82 million from the Indian clients.
Scanlon could be a bridge between the SunCruz case and the Abramoff investigation in Washington, because he did public relations work for the Florida company and for Abramoff's Indian clients. He also could be a source of information on whether DeLay was improperly influenced by trips, gifts or campaign contributions.