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Former House Leader Tom DeLay Convicted Of Money Laundering

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Former Republican Texas Congressman and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay may have a little less to be thankful for this year than most other Americans seasoning their turkeys tonight– a jury found him guilty today several money laundering charges that could add up to a lifetime prison sentence.

In total, DeLay has been convicted of channeling nearly $200,000 in illegal donations to various Republican candidates. The charges, which led to DeLay stepping down as Majority Leader in 2005. The New York Times outlines the charges– and the unorthodox tactics the prosecution needed to use to persuade the jury:

“[Prosecutors] argued Mr. DeLay and two of political operatives — John Colyandro and Jim Ellis — had violated the criminal money-laundering law. They were charged with conspiring to funnel $190,000 in corporate donations to state candidates through the Republican National Committee.”

Meanwhile, DeLay responded to the charges by “prais[ing] the Lord” and calling the conviction an “abuse of power.” “I maintain that I am innocent,” he told reporters.

DeLay served in the House of Representatives from 1985-2006. He also made a much-talked-about appearance on Dancing with the Stars. He faces two to twenty years for conspiracy and five to 99 years for money laundering.

DeLay’s statements after hearing his verdict via CNN below:

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  • The Lantern of Truth

    im ted . dancing ? sarah palin involved in this ?

  • Just4thefax

    Fact: Ethics violation? Slap on the wrist? Reprimanded? Common let Tom Free!

  • Fox News: Better that we sell Hate than Crack

    To these right wing MOFOs who creamed their pants for weeks over Jame’s O’Keefe’s hacked-Acorn video, Can we expect the same amount of coverage from you and Fox News over Tom Delay’s conviction? Or was it unfair and unjust that he get convicted by a jury of his peers because his goal of electing Republicans was so noble?

  • Jelperman

    BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!

    The Bug-Man just got PWNED! The time to give thanks just came early!

  • errxn

    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? Hmm….

  • Cecelia

    Hopefully, this will be struck down in the same prosecuting organized abortion clinic protesters under the Ricco Act was struck down.

  • Some_Dude

    That’s all they got him on? Is he facing future charges as well?

    I kind of forgot about him, and just how many crimes he committed while in office.

  • http://none pyrope

    If he’s guilty–and one must assume that sufficient evidence has been provided to a jury of his peers that they arrived at such a conclusion–he must be held accountable for his crime.

    If he is not held accountable, the judicial system would be broken.

    Now, lets see what happens to Barney Fwank, Chris Dood, Maxine Waters, ad infinitum.

    I think Mr. Delay should receive precisely the SAME punishment as what will be metted out to Charlie Rangel.

  • disenlightened

    Looks like Obama and the Democrats needed a diversion in the headlines. Time to drag out an old Republican as bait.

  • timzank

    pyrope said:
    I think Mr. Delay should receive precisely the SAME punishment as what will be metted out to Charlie Rangel.

    That will be nothing. Rangel is black, remember?

  • The_Reasonable_Lib

    Republicans are crooked. Is this supposed to shock and astound me?

  • cmdrgmh

    It was a good day after all. See ya porky. Hammer this jagg off.

  • disenlightened

    Barney “Banking Queen” Frank, Ted “The Swimmer” Kennedy, Jim “Never” Wright, Bill “BJ” Clinton, Maxine “Comrade” Waters, Chris “Sweetheart” Dodd, Robert “Sheets” Byrd, Charlie “Fats” Rangel, John “Crooked” Conyers, Jim “The Peeper” McDermott, John “Greasy Palms” Murtha, etc etc.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Bill-Adkins/1585417987 Bill Adkins

    Remember Tom DeLay’s smiling mug shot? Today Tom has received a massive attitude adjustment. Tom isn’t smiling anymore.

  • Big_F-ing_Deal

    Buh-Bye, Tom. lolol

  • Just4thefax

    Bill Adkins said:
    Remember Tom DeLay’s smiling mug shot? Today Tom has received a massive attitude adjustment. Tom isn’t smiling anymore.

    Fact: When will Rick Perry pardon him?

  • murf

    If true, he should go straight to prison.

    Purge the rotten apples, no exceptions.

  • piikllmjj

    ======\\\ http://www. betterwhol es al er.us///===========
    handbag $33

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  • skyfet

    Dancing with the stars this time last year, might be dancing with the jail bird this time next year. But they might let him go, sad.

  • david r

    Don’t get too excited. While Austin is very progressive, the court of appeals district takes in several rural counties and is mostly Republican. He may win on appeal.

  • Jelperman

    Just4thefax said:
    Fact: When will Rick Perry pardon him?

    In Texas, the Governor can’t pardon or commute a sentence unless the State Board of Pardons and Parole approves of it. So Perry may want to pardon DeLay but can’t -yet.

  • cjd ohio 1

    if you are a cheat like him, go to jail, do not pass go, whatever party you belong too.

  • shootfromthehip

    Tom always was and remains crooked to the core. A jury listened to evidence presented against him and he STILL is trying to blame others.

    Face it, Tom, you got busted.

    Off to jail for you.

  • jrcmi

    The Hammer got “nailed.” Couldn’t happen to a rottener guy.

    Trying to drag libs down with him is “sour grapes.” You’ll ruin your Thanksgiving dinner wine . . . or “whine,” as the case may be.

    Cheer up, right-weepers. Charges against Rangel were ETHICS-related, not criminal, per se. Criminal prosecution may follow.

  • Nachi

    And he is just another freak so adored by the Republiscum. They should hang the nasty little SOB.

  • Just4thefax

    Nachi said:
    And he is just another freak so adored by the Republiscum. They should hang the nasty little SOB.

    Fact: So your a Left nut, D-bagger and I’d rather be him than you!

  • disenlightened

    david r said:
    Don’t get too excited. While Austin is very progressive, the court of appeals district takes in several rural counties and is mostly Republican. He may win on appeal.

    Absolutely right. But, the media won’t cover that.

  • http://none pyrope

    pyrope said:
    If he’s guilty–and one must assume that sufficient evidence has been provided to a jury of his peers that they arrived at such a conclusion–he must be held accountable for his crime. If he is not held accountable, the judicial system would be broken. Now, lets see what happens to Barney Fwank, Chris Dood, Maxine Waters, ad infinitum. I think Mr. Delay should receive precisely the SAME punishment as what will be metted out to Charlie Rangel.

    8 DOWN & 4 UP–PROOF THERE ARE DOUBLE STANDARDS EMPLOYED BY THE LIBERAL IDIOTS.

  • jrcmi

    pyrump says pyrump said:

    “If he’s guilty–and one must assume that sufficient evidence has been provided to a jury of his peers that they arrived at such a conclusion–he must be held accountable for his crime. If he is not held accountable, the judicial system would be broken. Now, lets see what happens to Barney Fwank, Chris Dood, Maxine Waters, ad infinitum. I think Mr. Delay should receive precisely the SAME punishment as what will be metted out to Charlie Rangel.

    “8 DOWN & 4 UP–PROOF THERE ARE DOUBLE STANDARDS EMPLOYED BY THE LIBERAL IDIOTS.”

    Pyrump proves himself the true “idiot.” DeLay was convicted of CRIMINAL charges. Rangel was convicted by the House ethics committee on ETHICS charges.

    Waters has been ACCUSED of ethics violations. She sought – and was denied – a pre-election trial to clear her name. “Fwank” ASKED the committee to investigate allegations against him. He was censured for fixing parking tickets for a companion who had made far more dire – but unsubstantiated – charges. From wikipedia: “[A]ttempts to censure and expel Frank were led by Republican Larry Craig, whom Frank criticized for hypocrisy after Craig’s own later arrest for soliciting gay sex in an airport bathroom.”

    As for “Dood,” per wikipedia: “On August 7, 2009, a Senate ethics panel issued its decision on the controversy. The Select Committee on Ethics said it found “no credible evidence” that Dodd knowingly sought out a special loan or treatment because of his position . . . ” though he should have questioned why his loan was issued under a “V.I.P.” program.

    The Republicants want to torpedo the House Ethics Committee so they can indulge their primary interest; helping wealthy campaign donors at the expense of the rest of us – and our country.

    Pyrump boasts about his intellect. Evidence to this effect is lacking, though his homophobia and blind partisanship are far more obvious.

  • http://none pyrope

    jrcmi said:

    Pyrump proves himself the true “idiot.” DeLay was convicted of CRIMINAL charges. Rangel was convicted by the House ethics committee on ETHICS charges.

    No, you’re the idiot and you’re also in denial–as are all liberal idiots. Rangel swindled his constituents out of enough money to provide himself with rent-controlled housing, a $6 million pad in the Dominican Republic, and has behaved as a criminal for the 40 years the stupid people in his district have continued to reelect him. Misappropriation of funds is a felony.

    Dood contrived to get himself several sweetheart deals from Countrywide; in each count he is guilty of a felony.

    Maxine waters obtained money for her husband’s bank–more misappropriation of funds–all felonies.

    Boxer’s felonies were similar in nature.

    Then, there is William “cold cash” Jefferson, who took bribes. These, too, are felonies.

    If you are stupid enough to cover for these criminals, that’s on you, but at the end of the day, you’re still STUPID.

  • http://none pyrope

    jrcmi said:
    pyrump says pyrump said:

    And it’s “Pyrope” idiot.

  • ititiiti

    pyrope said:
    I think Mr. Delay should receive precisely the SAME punishment as what will be metted out to Charlie Rangel.

    rangel should get the same “punishment” john boehner got for passing out lobby checks to his colleagues just before the vote against tobacco interests a few years back.

  • Nahu Tuk

    What say We the People demand an end to lobbyists, earmarks, and wasteful spending along with demanding a balanced budget amendment?

  • Nahu Tuk

    pyrope said:
    And it’s “Pyrope”

    That’s a Greek name isn’t it?

  • timcajun

    pyrope said:
    I think Mr. Delay should receive precisely the SAME punishment as what will be metted out to Charlie Rangel.

    Since the two issues are errors on the side of accounting and another is several actions of fraud, sure it should be the same punishment!

  • http://none pyrope

    Nahu Tuk said:
    That’s a Greek name isn’t it?

    It is. Do you speak Greek?

  • http://none pyrope

    timcajun said:
    pyrope said:I think Mr. Delay should receive precisely the SAME punishment as what will be metted out to Charlie Rangel. Since the two issues are errors on the side of accounting and another is several actions of fraud, sure it should be the same punishment!

    Tim, I cannot help but believe you agree that we have too darned many crooks in our government. As a cajun, I’m certain you must know the history of Louisiana, dating back even prior to Huey P Long. Don’t you agree that we deserve better?

    As for myself, it doesn’t make a bit of difference whether the crook is Republican, Democrat, or whatever; a crook is NOT who I want representing me and my family. We cannot continue turning our heads based on partisanship–a crook in government bodes ill for our country, and our country is what matters most to me when it comes to politics.

  • jrcmi

    pyrope said:
    jrc

    You can’t defend your charges – and their subsequent dismantling – so you resort to bringing up details/persons/issues unrelated to your OWN original points. Nothing I said was inaccurate. Since the facts displease you, you resort to calling people names. I returned the dubious “favor.” Doesn’t feel so good, does it?

    Keep throwing your ecal matter against the wall until some of it sticks. It’s pretty much all you’ve got . . . sadly.

    “No, you’re the idiot and you’re also in denial–as are all liberal idiots. ”

    You claim to be so smart but insistently make idiotic blanket statements like this one.

    Eisenhower was a liberal Republican. Was HE an idiot, too?

    Pyrope is Greek for “rump,” you know.

  • jrcmi

    fecal

  • http://none pyrope

    If you’re happy with having crooks represent you just because they’re liberals, I feel sorry for you. You are what is wrong with this country.

    I can well defend my charges against any corrupt politician. I happen to believe I deserve better representation whether you do or not. I am part of the solution while you remain a part of the problem.

    If you would like to make a bet on which one of us has the higher IQ, I will make you the same offer I made to another poster on this site:

    1. We will both deposit any amount you choose from $10,000 to $100,000 in a bank in Las Vegas.

    2. We will mark our deposits in accordance with the terms of the wager: My IQ is higher than yours.

    3. Upon receiving notification from the bank, we will meet in Las Vegas with our certifiable proofs of our respective IQs.

    4. The one with the higher IQ goes home with the money.

    If you’re not willing to put up then SHUT UP you moron.

  • http://none pyrope

    jrcmi said:
    fecal

    Speaking of fecal, GORE LOST.

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