AML / CFT: Tom DeLay convicted of money laundering
Former US Representative Tom DeLay, a close friend of former president Bush II, has been convicted by a Texas court of money laundering. It is not a federal offence and the laws are not the same as those usually applied.
The case arose out of a complex system of funding DeLay's campaign for elections to the Texas state law-making body.
Under applicable electoral laws, there are strict conditions on how much may be collected and spent - and who it may be collected from. In particular, there are stringent rules applying to "out of state" donations.
DeLay has been fighting the case for several years, arguing everything from jurisdiction to innocence.
DeLay is angry at his conviction: he still thinks that he did nothing wrong. "This is an abuse of power... hopefully we can get this before people who understand the law."
Cynics think he means that if the case is considered by Judges rather than a jury, he will stand more chance of gaining a sympathetic hearing - elected judges and have to raise campaign funds, too.
But so do District Attorneys and the Travis County DA Rosemary Lehmberg takes a contrary view: "public officials..must [behave] honestly and ethically," she said.
Corruption in American Politics and Life (1910)
Corruption in American Politics and Life
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DeLay's offences related to the collection of out of state contributions which were channelled through various campaign organisations to disguise their origins; the money (USD190,000 and therefore not a lot in US politics where spending millions on an election campaign is common) was used in campaigns for several Republican candidates for the Texas State Legislature in 2002. DeLay was known as the go-to-man for Republican fund raising with a formidable reputation for squeezing money out of supporters.
DeLay left the House in 2006 after it was disclosed that he had close links with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abromoff. He had already resigned as "Majority Leader" (effectively deputy speaker) after the Texas criminal indictments were served.
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