Tom DeLay Gets Three Years In Prison

Tom DeLay’s saga has come to a rather ignominious end:

Judge Pat Priest sentenced Tom DeLay to three years in prison.

The three-year sentence was on the charge of conspiring to launder corporate money into political donations during the 2002 elections.

On the charge of money laundering, DeLay was sentenced to five years in prison, but that was probated for 10 years. That means he would serve 10 years’ probation.

“This will not stand,” said his attorney, Dick DeGuerin.

DeLay was taken into custody but he was expected to be released as soon as he posted an appeals bond.

The judge then ordered the courtroom cleared except for the lawyers.

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.

And, you’re going to jail.

FILED UNDER: Congress, Crime, US Politics, ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. ALP says:

    Why is it that almost all politicians feel that they are above the law. I believe that they should be held to much higher standards, as they think they are above us all in knowledge and power.

  2. tom p says:

    couldn’t happen to a nicer guy….

  3. legion says:

    Why is it that almost all politicians feel that they are above the law.
    Why? Because they _make_ the laws – feeling above them is a perfectly natural and completely expected pitfall of a legislator. That doesn’t excuse DeLay by any means – his conduct was an embarrassment to the country – but it’s not something that should surprise.