DeLay pulling out of race to use election funds for legal defense???

[Roland99]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR2006040302145_pf.html

DeLay has assembled a substantial legal team to fight back, and he has a defense fund -- financed largely by corporations with business before Congress -- that contained more than $600,000 at the end of last year, based on the cumulative record of its receipts and contributions. But contributions to the fund dropped from $318,000 to $181,500 between the third and fourth quarters of 2005.

DeLay, who is withdrawing from his reelection bid, also is entitled under federal election rules to convert any or all of his remaining campaign funds to his legal expenses, whether or not he resigns, is indicted or loses the election. Election lawyers say one advantage of bowing out of the election now is that the campaign cash can be converted to pay legal bills immediately, instead of being drained in the course of a bid to stay in office.

As of Feb. 15, when his campaign filed its most recent report with the Federal Election Commission, DeLay had $1,295,350 on hand. But that was two weeks before the Texas primary in which DeLay bested three Republican rivals to win renomination, and the pot of money available to DeLay now may be considerably less.

By stepping aside so early in an election year, a lawmaker "wouldn't be spending to be reelected" and could transfer the funds immediately to fend off any federal charges, said lawyer Kenneth A. Gross, a former head of the FEC's enforcement division. The last lawmaker to gain the FEC's formal approval for such a transfer was Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.), who resigned last November after pleading guilty to evading taxes and accepting bribes.

Hmmmmm

[babylonsister]

1. I fucking hope so and hope he gets nailed for it!

:hi:

[Roland99]

2. Well, it's legal to do so (that's why I quoted that part of the article)

:)


But, it may be a sign that he's expecting a much more intense (and expensive) defense. ;)

[MADem]

3. Of course--it is legal for him to do it, and every day paying staff

and doing mailouts, precinct walking, paying for office space, phones, and so forth adds up.

He wants to keep his legal team, he's gonna have to pony up. Ya don't get much per hour making license plates.

[Sydnie]

4. That explains it all.

and could it explain why he is transferring his legal residence to VA? So he doesn't have to face all those contributors that are now pissed that he took their money and ran.

[AllegroRondo]

9. Hes moving to VA to become a lobbyist.

any bets on who hires him?

[realFedUp]

13. Terminex?

Blackwater?

[BlooInBloo]

5. god I hope so! Leaves his replacement with nothing!

[Roland99]

7. Oh, I think they'll find some way to funnel money to him/her.

[gunsaximbo]

6. Pop, fizzz

That was me opening a split of Champaigne.

[Junkdrawer]

8. So he "delayed" his exit until he built up his legal defense fund...

:evilgrin:

[Swamp Rat]

10. Nah nah naaah naaah, nah nah naaah naaah! Hey hey hey! Goodbye Tom!

[Darkhawk32]

11. Possbily Delay to change plea? n/t

[Roland99]

12. Well, if he's planning on leaving the state, I don't see that but...

wonder what ol' Ronnie Earle thinks of this.