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With a lot of foully-corrupt GOP Congressmen helping him avoid the 
indictment visited on 32 of his helpers.





Grand Jury Indictments Involve PAC That House Republican Leader Helped 
Create

*By April Castro* Associated Press Writer
Published: Sep 22, 2004

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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A grand jury has handed up 32 indictments for an 
alleged a scheme to make illegal campaign contributions through a 
political action committee associated with House Republican leader Tom 
DeLay.

DeLay, who was not charged, accused the prosecutor of using the 
investigation for political purposes.

"This has been a dragged out 500-day investigation and you do the 
political math. This is no different than other kinds of partisan 
attacks that have been leveled against me that are dropped after 
elections," he said.

A Travis County grand jury on Tuesday indicted three political 
operatives and eight companies, alleging campaign finance violations 
related to corporate money spent in the 2002 legislative races. The 
corporate donations were made to Texans for a Republican Majority, a 
political action committee created with help from DeLay.

DeLay was not questioned or subpoenaed as part of the grand jury 
investigation.

"Democracy depends on equality and equality cannot exist in an 
atmosphere that's like what the law of the jungle is like, the biggest, 
richest and meanest get to be in charge," said Travis County District 
Attorney Ronnie Earle, a Democrat.

The grand jury investigation began shortly after Republicans gained a 
majority in the Texas House for the first time since Reconstruction. The 
GOP later used its majority to redraw Texas' congressional districts to 
favor Republican candidates.

Texas law prohibits the use of corporate money for political activity.

Jim Ellis, 47, a former DeLay aide who heads Americans for a Republican 
Majority, DeLay's national fund-raising committee, was charged with 
money laundering. John Colyandro, 40, former executive director of 
Texans for a Republican Majority, faces charges including money 
laundering and unlawful acceptance of corporate political contributions.

Warren RoBold, 48, a Washington consultant who helped raise money for 
both PACs, was indicted for unlawful acceptance of corporate political 
contributions.

The eight companies were charged with making illegal political 
contributions. They include Sears, Roebuck and Co., the Cracker Barrel 
restaurant chain, Bacardi USA and Westar Energy. Each company donated at 
least $20,000.

Colyandro and Ellis did not immediately return telephone calls Tuesday 
for comment. The Associated Press could not immediately locate RoBold.

Sears spokesman Chris Brathwaite said the company was "surprised by the 
indictment because Sears' contribution to this PAC followed all 
applicable state and federal laws."

Also Tuesday, DeLay, the second-ranking House member, dismissed as 
frivolous a complaint filed with the House ethics committee that alleges 
he abused his office for political purposes.

Leaders of the House ethics committee said they soon plan to present to 
committee members information they've obtained on a three-part complaint 
filed by Rep. Chris Bell, D-Texas.

The 10-member committee, equally divided by party, could send the 
allegations to an investigative subcommittee, dismiss some allegations 
while ordering a probe of others or throw out the complaint.

"I think people see this for what it is, at least that's what I've 
seen," DeLay said.

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