Ex-U.S. House majority leader DeLay gets fresh indictments |
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Published
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Wed, 05 Oct 2005 00:35
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AUSTIN, Texas: A Texas grand jury indicted powerful Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives Tom DeLay on two new charges, including a charge on money laundering. Delay, 58, earlier last week, faced a conspiracy indictment, which forced him to step down temporarily as House majority leader, a position he held since 2002. Representing a Houston area district, he however, retains the congressional seat.
The Travis County, Texas, grand jury lodged the new indictment involving a conspiracy to commit money laundering in a campaign finance scheme, just hours after his defence team applied to have the earlier charge dismissed grounds that the law did not come into force until 2003, a year after the alleged acts.
If convicted, the Texan Republican can be punished with a stiffer penalty -- from five years of probation to a life term in prison and a fine of $10,000 -- than the one given last week -- two years in a state jail and a fine of up to $10,000.
DeLay said the prosecutors are seeking new charges because they were not certain the earlier indictments will stand in the court. He described the action as an "abomination of justice."
The new charges are that DeLay and his two political associates, John Colyandro and Jim Ellis, conspired to get around a state ban on corporate campaign contributions by channeling the contributions through a DeLay-floated Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee, TRMPAC. The charges originate from an alleged $190,000 cheque sent from the political committee to the Republican National Committee and the Republican National State Elections Committee. The national party then sent a similar amount to seven candidates for the Texas House of Representatives in 2002.
The Republicans could take control of the Texas Legislature for the first time since the post-Civil War Reconstruction era. There was also a controversial remapping of congressional districts, which increased the number of Republicans from Texas in the U.S. House.
Prosecutors said this is a violation of the state's ban on the use of corporate money in local election campaigns.
His associates, John Colyandro of Austin and Jim Ellis of Washington, were indicted on charges of conspiracy to violate campaign finance laws and money laundering.
As House majority leader, DeLay had a crucial role in passing President George W. Bush's agenda including tax cuts and a prescription drug benefit for older Americans.
DeLay said his resignation is temporary and that he will continue to function in an influential manner in the House.
DeLay had faced criticism for ethics problems involving fund-raising, foreign travels and his dealings with lobbyists.
The charges against DeLay were framed by Democratic district attorney Ronnie Earle.
The judge who will preside in the case is out of the country on vacation and could not give a ruling on the defense motion.
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