The Tom DeLay Scandals

Tom DeLay was indicted today for criminal conspiracy because of his part in a scandal involving corporate political contributions to Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee, an organization DeLay helped set up in 2001. “The Hammer,” as he’s known for his success wrangling fellow Republicans, has stepped down from his position as House majority leader pending the outcome of the criminal case against him. In April, Nicholas Thompson ranked five DeLay scandals for “stench” and for their potential to bring DeLay down. He correctly predicted that the TRMPAC turmoil smelled very bad. “DeLay hasn’t been indicted yet, but he could be,” Thompson said then. “And if there’s a trial, his indicted associates might choose to squawk about the congressman’s misdeeds in exchange for less or no jail time.”