Tom DeLay Conviction Overturned by Texas Court

By Ed O'Keefe, The Washington Post

19 September 13

exas appellate court has overturned the conviction of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) for allegedly scheming to influence Texas state elections with corporate money, his attorney told several news organizations early Thursday.

A three-judge panel voted 2-1 to overturn the conviction, calling the evidence "legally insufficient," according to the majority ruling. The decision formally acquits DeLay of all charges, but could still be appealed by the government.

DeLay, 66, was in Washington, meeting with prayer group at a Capitol Hill townhouse, when he heard the news.

"We were all basically on our knees praying and my lawyer calls and says you're a free man," he said.

DeLay was convicted in 2010 for allegedly trying to influence Texas elections by funneling corporate money to various candidates. Prosecutors said that the money helped the GOP win control of the Texas House and that the majority then pushed through a DeLay-organized congressional redistricting plan that sent more Republicans to Congress. Those maps have since been challenged by the Justice Department for unfairly drawing minority communities out of certain districts.

DeLay was sentenced to three years in prison, but has remained a free man while awaiting appeal rulings.

At the Capitol Thursday, DeLay told a group of reporters that he felt vindicated by the judges' decision.

"It's really happy day for me and I just thank the Lord for carrying me through all of this and it really drove my detractors crazy because I had the joy of Jesus in me and they didn't understand it."

He said the legal troubles were hard on his family and called the indictment "an outrageous criminalization of politics."

When asked if he planned to return to the political arena, DeLay said he "never left it" but would "probably not" run for elected office again. "There's too much other things that the Lord wants me to do."

He joked that he could help the House Republicans drum up support for their controversial proposal to keep the government running while simultaneously blocking implementation of Obama's health care law, the Affordable Care Act.

"They haven't asked me to, but I could do it," he said.

DeLay's control of the House was legendary, earning him the nickname, "The Hammer," for the dictatorial style with which he commanded House Republicans - and tormented President Bill Clinton and Democrats.

He has rarely been seen in public since the conviction, but last December was spotted lunching with disgraced former superlobbyist Jack Abramoff at a restaurant in Washington. Abramoff was convicted of fraud and corruption stemming in part from his lobbying of DeLay and other House Republicans.

Read the court's majority opinion and dissenting opinions.