TPM: Tom Delay Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

[flpoljunkie]

Tom DeLay Sentenced To Prison
Rachel Slajda
January 10, 2011, 3:22PM

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) has been sentenced to three years in prison, the AP and the Austin-American Statesman are reporting.

Texas Judge Pat Priest handed down the sentence this afternoon in an Austin courtroom.

DeLay was convicted in November on money laundering and conspiracy charges. His lawyers asked for the minimum sentence, probation. Prosecutors asked for at least 10 years in prison.

According to the Statesman, Priest sentenced DeLay to three years on the conspiracy charge. He was sentenced to 10 years probation on the straight money laundering charge, allowing him to avoid another five years in prison.

He is expected to appeal.

The charges stem from the 2002 Texas state house elections, when DeLay's state PAC collected $190,000 in corporate donations and sent the money to the Republican National Committee. The RNC then sent a total of $190,000 to seven Republican state house candidates hand-picked by DeLay's PAC.

Under Texas law, it is illegal for candidates to use corporate money -- raised directly or indirectly -- for their campaigns.

more...

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/tom_delay_sentenced_to_prison.php?ref=fpblg

[xchrom]

1. Awesome. Nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Oh Happy Day!!!

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[valerief]

3. Not enough. nt

[eleny]

4. I took a double take at your OP

Could hardly believe my eyes. Yeah, he'll appeal but he surely deserves this angst.

[flpoljunkie]

7. More on this from the Austin American Statesman...

Prior to the sentence, DeLay spoke to the court.

He was unrepentant.

“I fought the fight. I ran the race. I kept the faith,” DeLay said.

Judge Priest said he agreed with the jury’s guilty verdict, returned in November, and would have instructed a different verdict if he did not believe DeLay conspired to break the law.

He said there is no higher principle than that those who write the laws should follow the law.

UPDATED: Travis County prosecutors argued that Tom DeLay should go to prison today.

“He needs to go to prison, your Honor, and he needs to go today,” said prosecutor Steven Brand.

more at link below:

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2011/01/10/delay_appears_in_court.html

[Xenotime]

5. Tell him to make some room for Pailin.

[vaberella]

6. Wasn't he on dancing with the stars?! n/t

[flpoljunkie]

8. Indeed, he was!

[Phx_Dem]

9. Good. He'll be right where he belongs. n/t