DeLay Convicted of Money Laundering

The former U.S. House majority leader could face up to life in prison.

Yesterday former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay was found guilty of funneling $190,000 of corporate money through a political action committee to Texas Republicans in 2001. The large influx of cash before the 2002 state elections helped the GOP wrest control of the Texas House from Democrats, who had held it for decades. Once in power, the Republicans redrew congressional districts to favour federal Republicans, who held a slim majority in the U.S. House at the time. When he perpetrated the scheme, DeLay was the third most powerful figure in Congress’s lower chamber. He’s facing two to 20 years for conspiracy and five to 99 years for money laundering. DeLay resigned as in 2005 after he was indicted.