DeLay’s PAC Found Guilty
Tom DeLay’s state political action committee has been found guilty of violating Texas campaign finance law. In a civil trial (why not a criminal one?) a Texas judge ruled against DeLay’s Texans for a Republican Majority PAC, holding that the committee failed to report half a million dollars or more in corporate contributions, in direct violation of Texas law. Joseph Hart (beef up his security please) ruled that a political action committee formed by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay did violate Texas law. Not only didn’t they report the corporate contributions, but then they illegally funneled them to GOP candidates in the 2002 election.
So, supposing that they appeal… would Priscilla Owen be deciding that one?
National Public Radio report and copy of the first draft of the ruling
The watchdog group Public Campaign Action Fund released the following statement from its National Campaigns Director, David Donnelly, regarding the ruling:
“In a court of law DeLay’s TRMPAC was found to have concealed from the public record more than half a million dollars in corporate campaign donations, in violation of state law. This decision, with an impartial judge and all the evidence laid out, further underscores the need for the House Ethics Committee to appoint an outside counsel. The public will not trust Tom DeLay’s cronies in Congress to do what Judge Hart did today; specifically, he ruled on the facts, not the politics, of the case. Americans from across the nation need to ask themselves yet again whether they want a Congress led by a man with countless ethical violations, scandals, donors to repay, and, now, a guilty verdict against his own political committee.”
(why not a criminal one?)
The plaintiffs in this case were Democratic political candidates who claimed they were harmed by TRMPAC’s illegal activities. Their recourse was to file a civil claim. A prosecutor and grand jury would have to bring a criminal complaint on behalf of a state or locality.
From what I understand, prosecutors in Texas are investigating whether or not to indict DeLay and TRMPAC. This civil ruling might make their decision easier.