BTL:Indictment of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay Adds to...

Indictment of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay Adds to Growing Cloud of Corruption Charges Hanging Over GOP

Interview with Alex Knott, of the Center for Public Integrity, conducted by Scott Harris

After years of ethics investigations and several admonishments regarding his financial and legislative dealings, Republican House Majority leader Tom DeLay has been indicted twice and forced to temporarily step down as one of the GOP's key power brokers in the U.S. House of Representatives. The indictments on conspiracy and money laundering charges, filed against DeLay and two aides, alleges that $190,000 in corporate contributions were transferred from a Texas political action committee to the Republican National Committee in 2002. The funds were later returned to GOP candidates for the Texas legislature -- a violation of that state's law prohibiting corporate money from being used in statewide campaigns.

In response, DeLay has launched a strong counterattack characteristic of the legislator known for his aggressive "take no prisoners" approach to politics. DeLay and his allies have accused Travis County, Texas district attorney Ronnie Earle, a Democrat, of prosecutorial abuse motivated by partisan politics. But over the last year, an ethical cloud has been gathering over the Republican Party. Two of the party's congressional leaders are now under scrutiny, Delay and Senate majority leader Bill Frist, who is being investigated for securities violations. Delay's longtime friend and Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff is the target of another federal corruption probe and White House political strategist Karl Rove and vice presidential aide Lewis Libby have been questioned about their role in the Valerie Plame - CIA leak case.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Alex Knott, with the Center for Public Integrity, who assesses the recent indictment of Tom DeLay and the public's growing weariness of government corruption.

Contact the Center for Public Integrity by calling (202) 466-1300 or visit their website at http://www.publicintegrity.org

Related links:


"DeLay Is Indicted Again; Charges Are Graver," Los Angeles Times , Oct. 4, 2005

http://www.commoncause.org

http://www.democracy21.org

"Bush's Presidency Is Exposed, Crumbling," Bloomberg.com, Sept. 29, 2005

"The Wrong-Way Congress," The New York Times Editorial, Sept. 30, 2005

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