I've said he was the slimiest snake in the pit for a lonnnnng time. I hope at least ONE of the investigations bears fruit - -Delay's butt in jail!




DeLay Faces Democrat's Ethics Complaints


Tue Jun 15, 9:43 PM ET
By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - A Texas Democrat who saw his political career halted by the maneuverings of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and other Republicans filed multiple complaints with the House ethics committee Tuesday, accusing DeLay of "serious criminal acts."

DeLay, R-Texas, said the charges levied by Rep. Chris Bell had no substance and were the product of a disgruntled lawmaker who "is very bitter about his losing the primary and he is using the ethics committee to express his bitterness."

Bell, at a news conference, said he had been preparing his complaints long before his March defeat in the Democratic primary, a result mainly of redistricting brought about by DeLay and his GOP allies in the Texas Legislature.

Bell's term will end when Congress completes its current session.
"Nothing about this complaint is going to bring back my seat," Bell said. "The only thing I have to gain," he said, "is the wrath of Tom DeLay."

Bell made three complaints to the ethics committee:
_That DeLay illegally solicited and accepted political contributions from the Kansas-based Westar Energy Corporation in return for legislative favors. Westar executives, lobbying for a provision in a major energy bill, in 2002 contributed $58,200 to various campaigns and political action committees, including $25,000 to DeLay's PAC, Texans for a Republican Majority.

_That the same political action committee in September, 2002, sent $190,000 in corporate funds to the Republican National Committee "in an apparent money-laundering scheme" intended to provide funds for GOP candidates to the Texas state legislature.

_That in 2003, when the Texas legislature was battling over the GOP plan to carry out redistricting that could gain Republicans five or so more seats in the House, DeLay abused his office to urge federal agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration to track down Democrats who had left Austin to prevent Republicans from getting a quorum to vote on the plan.

DeLay said that the charges were "all based on press clippings and it's nothing new." DeLay, who has weathered past charges by Democrats of campaign violations, said he keeps attorneys on retainer and "we have made sure that everything that I do is legal and meets the rules of the House and the ethics committee's mandates and rules."





Yah....I'll BET he "keeps attorneys on retainer" - I'll bet he keeps them busy too! They're STILL working their way around being convicted for using that "orphaned children" org for campaign fund raising!

Guess they don't like hearing about the criminals they support being caught?



Wed Jun 16, 5:24 PM ET
By LARRY MARGASAK, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - There's more than one way to please a congressman with gifts. Donors contributed to Majority Leader Tom DeLay's legal defense fund.
The disclosure forms do not show net worth but list sources of income outside lawmaker salaries — $154,700 for rank-and-file, more for leaders. Most categories are reported in broad dollar ranges.

DeLay, a Texas Republican, attached to his form a list of contributors to his Legal Expense Trust who gave a total of $53,500 in 2003, including $41,500 from political action committees and corporations.

Reliant Energy Inc. of Houston, International Integrated Industries of Las Vegas and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco of Winston-Salem, N.C., each donated $5,000, as did a political committee headed by Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La., who formerly headed the Energy and Commerce Committee.

DeLay said earlier this year his legal fund may need to raise more money.

HAHAHAHAHAHA - -GEE - YATHINK?????


A Travis County, Texas, grand jury is investigating potential campaign finance violations. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, in a lawsuit dismissed in 2001, accused DeLay of violating racketeering laws.

And this week, Rep. Chris Bell, a Texas Democrat who saw his political career halted by maneuverings of DeLay and other Republicans, filed complaints with the House ethics committee accusing DeLay of "serious criminal acts," which the majority leader denied.