After almost 19 hours of deliberations, a Travis County jury today convicted former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on felony charges of political money laundering.
DeLay faces two to 20 years in prison on a conspiracy charge and five to 99 years or life on a money laundering charge. DeLay remains free on bail, with sentencing tentatively set for Dec. 20.
DeLay and his family did not react when the verdict was read. But after the court was dismissed, DeLay received a hug and a kiss from his wife. Then, his adult daughter, Dani, buried her face into DeLay’s shoulder and began sobbing. DeLay’s face turned red as he fought back tears.
DeLay’s defense lawyer, Dick DeGuerin, who has claimed no money laundering actually occurred, decried the verdict.
“This is a terrible miscarriage of justice,” DeGuerin said. “We will appeal. I’m very, very disappointed. This will never stand up on appeal.”
DeLay, as he has from the beginning, said the case was all politics, but said his religious faith is getting him through.
“I’m not going to blame anyone,” he said. “This is an abuse of power. It’s a miscarriage of justice. And I still maintain that I am innocent. The criminalization of politics undermines our system.”
Lead prosecutor Gary Cobb said the jury acted without a political agenda and made a decision based on the facts.
“We thought the citizens of Travis County would see this case for what it was, a corrupt politician who was caught violating the laws of the state,” Cobb said.
The case against DeLay originally was brought in 2005 by then-District Attorney Ronnie Earle. DeLay claimed Earle was conducting a Democratic political vendetta.
Tom “The Hammer” Delay was a lieutenant of Newt Gingrinch and helped start the “K Street Project” which was an effort to pressure lobbying firms to only hire Republicans and only donate to Republican candidates and causes.
May he rot in prison.
UPDATE:
Tom Delay’s Wikipedia page is here.
More information from the New York Times here.
Filed under: corruption | Tagged: Tom DeLay |
The Confluence 
Wikipedia really lays out what a piece of shit the man is.
Karma is a b**ch
Delay may find himself someone’s b**ch.
His social calendar will be busy.
One can only hope.
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. If only they could lock him up & throw away the key.
99 years would be throwing away the key. 🙂
Texas law prohibits corporate donations to any political campaign, directly or indirectly, for the past 100 years or close to it.
Exactly — but I bet he gets the minimum.
What are the chances that he’ll serve as much time as was sentenced?
I only ask because politicians and celebrities seem to escape any semblance of justice.
I wonder about that too. But it’s not like Scooter Libby where he has a sitting Preznit pal.
Texas criminal law is usually draconian but they make exceptions for people that are rich, white and/or politically connected.
My guess as to how much time he will serve: Not nearly enough.
Rich, white criminals can serve more time than you would think, depending to some extent on the recommendation of the prosecutor prior to sentencing.
If Ronnie Earle were still DA, he would get one hell of a sentence. I have no idea what the new DA will even ask for, let alone what he may receive. Probably too little.
Texas uses “indeterminate sentencing” which means the judge has lots of leeway.
Yep, probation to 99 yrs is a lot of leeway 🙂
Lots of judges do place some weight on recommendations, but I don’t have a clue in this instance.
He’s going to appeal, and prove that politics isn’t a crime.
Wow, I forgot he was on DWTS…all I could think of when I saw that he was convicted was that character on the Simpson’s…Nelson…the one who laughs at Bart and says “Ah ha, Simpson.”
A bad day in Travis County for DeLay. The best appellate lawyer in town was killed in a plane crash today: http://www.setexasrecord.com/news/231585-appellate-lawyer-coleman-killed-in-plane-crash
Such good news! I’ve been out running a whole weekend worth of errands today and have been totally out of touch with the news.
I’m actually happy about this.
I agree, this is really good news.
I wonder if he’ll get the “new fish” treatment while he’s in prison. lol
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
(What happens in prison, stays in prison)
Especially after the fellow prisoners see a UTUBE
if him shaking it on DWTS.
EEWWWW…I need to sear out my eyeballs after watching Delay in that dancing routine.
If only that were true.
So are his potential cell mates
Thanks to Tom we might get a Palin-free Turkey Day
I stand corrected:
oh gees, I’m sympathetic to animal rights, but calling it a “snuff video” just waters down the term, and not in a good way. A fish, srsly?
I agree — I love my animals & have rescued many myself (or helped place with family & friends) but for the love of cheese! A fish? Give me a f*cking break. Contrary to what Disney would have you belive, fish are not like Nemo. Fish have about a 1 second short term memory — that is why a goldfish swimming around a bowl doesn’t get bored. I can’t have any “warm fuzzy” feelings for a fish.
^^^Was in response to Valhalla.
That’s just funny. Are they going for comedy now?
I wonder how soon Delay’s “death” and closed casket funeral will happen…..
And I can’t predict. Does Jeralyn worry about his “defendant’s rights” or is she happy about the conviction? Afraid to look.
I haven’t looked either, but from what I remember she usually reserves her sympathies for violent felons, like OJ Simpson.
She probably feels sorry for him.
It’s not like he’s a Palin or anything.
I wandered over there. All she has is the announcement of his conviction and that quote from his lawyer saying it won’t stand up on appeal. I guess political money laundering isn’t nearly as much of a threat to democracy as the gall Bristol had to improve her dancing on DWTS.
You know damn well he wasn’t represented by a jury of his own peers……….should have been 12 republicans on that jury.
He looks terrible and 20 years older
BTW — is that his actual mug shot? Because if it is, what an a$$, smiling in his mug shot like he doesn’t have a care in the world. And I say that as someone who reflexively smiles anytime a camera is in her face — sick, unhappy, frustratred after waiting 5 hours at the DMV, whatever, someone gets the camera out & I automatically smile. And while I haven’t ever had my mug shot taken, I’m pretty sure that would be the ONE occassion where I wouldn’t smile. Jacka$$.
It’s a mug shot. DeLay thought justice did not apply to him.
I didn’t even know he had been accused of a crime until today. I no longer bother watching or reading any news from the Corporate Media, unless you count weather reports.
The case was filed a long time ago. I think justice takes its time in Texas.
Wow!
I forgot about this case… this has been coming for quite awhile.
Ronnie Earle began investigating this over the “off year” redistricting in Texas. That’s when the corporate money exchanged hands according to the charges. A long time coming and richly deserved.
It’s very interesting. It seems most people that have hurt the Clintons get a big serving of karma.
Finally! Let him learn some new dancing steps in prison from the inmates.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy!! Bwahahaha. Thanks for the good news!
Buh bye, BOZO!
Here is the response from a wonderful local blogger (From the World’s Most Dangerous Beauty Salon…):
http://juanitajean.com/
djmm
And from “Off the Kuff”:
http://offthekuff.com/wp/
And I forgot: From Juanita’s”
“This ain’t a blog. Blogs are way too trendy for me. This is a professional political organization.”
My apologies for my previous mischaracterization.
djmm
I’m not saying he’s innocent, but do you think the fact that the presiding judge jammed the jury with the ultimatum to either come to a verdict or face the prospect of being sequestered on Thanksgiving just MIGHT have affected the outcome?