Tonight on Nightline

[AlCzervik]

DeLay Indicted
Sept. 28, 2005

Today is a bad day for the Republican Party. Rep. Tom DeLay, the Republican majority leader in the House, has been indicted on one count of criminal conspiracy. This doesn't help the President, who considers DeLay "a good ally." And what kind of political fallout will result from the indictment of one of the Republicans' most prominent leaders?

Tom DeLay is charged with one count of criminal conspiracy. The charge is that he -- and two associates -- took political contributions from corporations and violated Texas law by using the money to finance local elections through the Republican National Committee. If he's found guilty, he could serve up to two years in prison. DeLay says the charges are unfounded and that Travis County district attorney Ronnie Earl, a Democrat, is just playing politics. The Texas Grand Jury ruled on the last day of its session. DeLay steps down as majority leader as required by House rules, and a temporary leader was selected. Roy Blunt, the House majority whip, will assume the majority leader's duties temporarily. "Nightline" correspondent Chris Bury's report will have the latest on all of this.

So what's the wider political fallout from this? Tom DeLay has been a major force for the Republican party. He has helped push through major legislation and set the Republican party's agenda in Washington. DeLay was the subject of an ethics probe last year, for which he was admonished on three separate matters, and he is the target of a probe looking at lobbyists paying for his overseas trips. Will the President be further damaged with all of this news? At a briefing at the White House today, press secretary Scott McClellan said that DeLay is a "good ally," but that it is the president's view "to let the legal process work."

We've asked the lawyers for both sides and other political analysts to participate in our discussion. Ted Koppel will anchor.

We hope you'll join us.

Gerry Holmes and the "Nightline" staff
Senior Producer
ABC News Washington Bureau

[rbajai]

1. Glad Nightline is airing this.

I was hoping last night it would be on Brown's bogus testimony in front of Congress but it was about something stupid instead.

Nightline isn't the same as it used to be. They run more silly human interest stories than actual news these days. I think ABC probably came down on them as ABC itself is so into human interest stories and unsubstantial gobbledeegook, which is one reason why I switched from Good Morning America to the NBC Today Show.