DNC_Dean statement on Delay indictment

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Tom DeLay was indicted in Texas today in a campaign finance scandal. He was indicted on the charge of consipracy along with two associates. This indictment is not related to the Jack Abramoff scandals which DeLay is also tightly aligned with.

A Texas grand jury on Wednesday charged Rep.Tom DeLay and two political associates with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme, an indictment that could force him to step down as House majority leader.

DeLay attorney Steve Brittain said DeLay was accused of a criminal conspiracy along with two associates, John Colyandro, former executive director of a Texas political action committee formed by DeLay, and Jim Ellis, who heads DeLay's national political committee.

The indictment against the second-ranking, and most assertive Republican leader came on the final day of the grand jury's term. It followed earlier indictments of a state political action committee founded by DeLay and three of his political associates.

The grand jury action is expected to have immediate consequences in the House, where DeLay is largely responsible for winning passage of the Republican legislative program. House Republican Party rules require leaders who are indicted to temporarily step aside from their leadership posts.

For the most up-to-date information on Tom DeLay's scandals, see our resource center here.

http://www.democrats.org/