DeLay indicted, will step aside as majority leader
Texas Republican, 2 associates charged with criminal conspiracy
WASHINGTON (AP) – A Texas grand jury on Wednesday charged Rep. Tom DeLay and two political associates with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme, forcing the House majority leader to temporarily relinquish his post.
DeLay’s 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.
GOP congressional officials said Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., will recommend that Rep. David Dreier of California step into those duties. Some of the duties may go to the GOP whip, Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri. The Republican rank and file may meet as early as Wednesday night to act on Hastert’s recommendation.
The charge carries a potential two-year sentence, which forces DeLay to step down under House Republican rules.
Re: Republican Senate Majority leader to step aside as charges filed
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Deceptive? Try typo. DeLay is the House majority leader, but don't worry myvoice as you know the Senate Majority Leader is Frist and the SEC is currectly lookign into his personal financial dealings. I didn't mean to jump the gun.
Re: Republican Senate Majority leader to step aside as charges filed
DeLay is going down. Frist is going down. Bush has historically pathetic poll numbers. The GOP will lose seats (and hopefuly its majority) next year. So there is at least a silver lining to Bush's Blunders.
Re: Republican House Majority leader to step aside as charges filed
Arrest warrent issued for Republican Tom Delay.
Tom Delays Mug shot is face of todays GOP.
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A Texas court issued a warrant Wednesday for former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay to appear for booking, where he is likely to face the fingerprinting and photo mug shot he had hoped to avoid.
Bail was initially set at $10,000 as a routine step before his first court appearance on conspiracy and money laundering charges. Travis County court officials said DeLay was ordered to appear at the Fort Bend County jail for booking.
The warrant was “a matter of routine and bond will be posted,” DeLay attorney Dick DeGuerin said.
The lawyer declined to say when DeLay would surrender to authorities but said the lawmaker would make his first court appearance Friday morning.
The charges against the Texas Republican stem from allegations that a DeLay-founded Texas political committee funneled corporate money into state GOP legislative races through the National Republican Party. Texas law prohibits use of corporate money to elect state candidates.
DeLay is charged with conspiracy to violate state election laws and money laundering, felony counts that triggered House Republican rules that forced him to step aside as majority leader.
Two separate indictments charge that DeLay and two political associates had the money distributed to state legislative candidates in a roundabout way — sending it from the political action committee in Texas to the Republican National Committee in Washington and finally back to candidates’ campaigns.
Re: Republican House Majority leader to step aside as charges filed
It seem like the whole Bush adminstration is in deep waters. With Delay, Frist, Rowe, Cheney and Scooter, all in deep sh*t, I'm wondering what the exit strategy is going to be, if any at all???
Re: Republican House Majority leader to step aside as charges filed
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very simple actually : attack iran & syria ASAP. everything will become ALRIGHT for sinking BUSH & CO.
RICE said recently that military options are STILL ON THE TABLE against the TWO nations. apparently that is why americans were trying to play who will kill more civilians by detonating a car-comb and gets a higher-rank-military-post in as reward.
Re: Republican House Majority leader to step aside as charges filed
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DeLay’s Lawyers Press Judge to Step Aside
AUSTIN, Texas - Proceedings in the political-money case against Rep.
Tom DeLay, R-Texas, are on hold after the congressman’s lawyer asked the presiding judge to step aside because he made campaign donations to Democrats and their liberal allies.
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