Before he was convicted this week of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay blamed a “rogue” Texas district attorney and Democrats for indicting him so that he would be removed from his powerful position in Congress.
“All they wanted was the indictment, because the Republicans have a rule that if one of their leaders is indicted he has to temporarily step aside from his leadership position,” DeLay told ABC News Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross on a full episode of “Brian Ross Investigates.” “So the Democrats, all they wanted was the indictment, and that’s how they could get rid of me.”
DeLay said a district attorney “shopped six grand juries…before he found a grand jury just sworn in 30 minutes to indict me” in a case where prosecutors said he illegally funneled corporate money through his political action committee to Texas candidates in 2002. Jurors spent 19 hours deliberating before returning the verdict Wednesday, after a three-week trial that saw more than 30 witnesses. The money laundering charge could see him sent to prison for life.
Full story: Tom DeLay Blames ‘Rogue’ DA, Maintains Friendship with Jack Abramoff