(Image source: Austin American-Statesman)
BY CHRISTINA HARTMAN
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He was once one of Washington’s most powerful lawmakers -- but today -- he’s a convicted felon.
A Texas jury found former House Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay guilty of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
After 19 hours of deliberation, the jury convicted Delay of using his political action committee to funnel corporate donations to Republicans seeking office in Texas. Minutes after the verdict - Delay and his attorney vowed to appeal -- calling it a quote - “miscarriage of justice.”
DELAY: “I’m very disappointed in the outcome. ... We will carry on, and maybe we can get it before people who understand the law.” (Video from KVUE)
CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin called the verdict an epic step for Texas -- noting the next step for Delay is sentencing -- where he could face prison time.
“I think unlikely more than a year, and the appeals will go on for some time, but Tom Delay is in a lot worse legal shape today than he was this morning, even though this is a legally controversial case. It is not a crime that has been prosecuted often in Texas or anywhere else.”
Fox News’ James Rosen says it was a - quote - “predominantly liberal jury” who convicted Delay. He suggests if what Delay did was wrong -- there are others guilty as well.
“Two Delay aides figured centrally in this case -- Jim Ellis at screen left allegedly took $190,000 in corporate donations to the RNC and told officials there Delay wanted that money to go to those GOP candidates.” ...
RON BONJEAN: “It didn’t seem on the face of it to be nefarious in nature. It seemed to be the way business is done. And if the state of Texas is saying no that’s not the way business is done in Washington, some people may have a problem on their hands.”
A reporter for the Austin American-Statesman tells PBS it’s been a long fall down for the former Texas congressman -- noting the prosecution already subpoenaed his former aides and associates -- so the worst might still be yet to come.
LAYLAN COPELIN: “So you could see that sentencing hearing become sort of a public airing of Tom Delay’s inner workings of his political circle and all the allegations that had swirled around him for years. And that could get played out again unless the judge tells the prosecutors he doesn’t want to hear it, because it’s the judge who’s gonna set to punishment, not a jury.”
But The Wall Street Journal talked to a legal expert who says -- the judge isn’t likely to make an example of Delay.
“...figuring the conviction itself is severe punishment for someone who once ascended to the No. 2 post in the House of Representatives. … as a convicted felon, DeLay won’t be able to run again for public office or even be able to cast a vote until he completes his sentence.”
The Travis County District Attorney told reporters Delay’s conviction sends a message that “no one is above the law... no matter how powerful...”
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