The Decay of DeLay: Salon

[oldhat]

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/10/04/scandal/print.html

The Decay of DeLay

New and spreading scandals plague House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and his political empire.

By Lou Dubose

Oct. 4, 2004

September was a bad month for House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas. The year to come will likely be worse.

On Sept. 30, the House Ethics Committee issued a 62-page report rebuking DeLay for trading support for the congressional candidacy of the son of retiring Rep. Nick Smith, R-Mich., in exchange for Smith's vote on Bush's Medicare bill. "It is improper for a member to offer or link support for the personal interests of another member as part of a quid pro quo to achieve a legislative goal," the committee reported.

Back in 1996 DeLay got a walk in a fundraising scandal involving a front group known as Triad. That scandal cost a Texas businessman $400,000 in fines and resulted in an FBI investigation. But what the FBI turned up was never revealed because then-House Government Reform chairman Dan Burton, R-Ind., blocked attempts by the ranking Democrat on the Committee, Henry Waxman, D-Calif., to subpoena the FBI notes and files.

Now the story of the fundraising operation known as DeLay Inc. might not have such a happy ending. While he got a pass in Washington in the Triad affair, DeLay might be doing a perp walk in 2005 in Austin, where three of his fundraisers may be headed for the Big Rodeo and the corporations that wrote checks will be dragged before a jury on charges of making illegal political contributions. And there's more. Two of the majority leader's closest associates in Washington could soon be facing federal indictments for an Indian gaming scandal. Both have already been called to appear before a Senate committee, which held its first hearing on the Indian lobby fee scandal earlier this week.



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[Lindsey]

1. I just keep yelling (to myself) HOW DID HE HAPPEN?

HOW DID HE HAPPEN? HOW DID HE HAPPEN?........

[pfitz59]

2. Blame the fundies in Sugarland......

DeLay is one of the chosen...SO BACK OFF!!!!!!!

[judgegina]

3. I and many other Democrats

will be protesting Delay tomorrow, Monday 10/4 @ 11am in Austin TX at 9th & Congress. Delay will be making an appearance at the Austin Club at 11:30am. Join us if you can!

[napi21]

5. Oooooo, send us pictures!

Sorry, I can't join you. I live in Ga. But I used to live in San Antonio, do I understand some of the Tx shit.

I sure hope you get lots of media coverage!!!

[Tight_rope]

4. I love it...I live in Sugarland and I want that crook gone!

[oasis]

6. Lock his ass up with no further delay.

[Carla in Ca]

7. Amazing how all around him falls

and he is always left standing. Amazing.

[Momof1]

8. bet ya that he is pardoned before * leaves office in Janurary. N/T

[Vogon_Glory]

9. Texas Prison Rodeo and Tom DeLay's Future

I am trying to remember if the Texas Prison Rodeo is still a going concern and if they could use Tom DeLay in their performances if he gets nailed on state charges here in Texas.

:evilgrin:

[JPZenger]

10. They Gave Great Power to an Exterminator

DeLay was a pest exterminator in Houston, before he went into politics. The main reason he got into politics because he was mad because the EPA banned his favorite pesticide.

[lil-petunia]

11. He was more than a pest before the Knesset a few yrs ago

He, in effect, called for Israeli military to go and exterminate Pallestinians. And that his White House would approve.

I heard the speach, read the transcript, and still shake my head at his words.