DeLay Sentenced to Prison

Judge Pat Priest sentenced disgraced U.S. House majority leader Tom DeLay to three years in prison this afternoon, and concurrently to 10 years of probation. Declaring "I agree with the jury’s verdict," Priest said that he believed DeLay knew what he was doing when he decided to violate Texas election laws.

In December, DeLay was convicted by a Travis County jury of money-laundering and conspiracy to money-launder. He was sentenced today to five years in prison for money-laundering (probated to 10 years), and three years (not probated) for conspiracy to money-launder. Prior to sentencing, Judge Priest said if he had not believed that DeLay knew what he was doing when he determined to break the law, he would have directed a verdict of not guilty. "Before there were Republicans and Democrats," Priest began, "there were Americans."

Priest said he did not believe – as the defense had contended – that DeLay had been singled out for prosecution because he was a Republican, adding that if prosecutions were rare for violations of campaign finance laws, it is because those involved understood the law and obeyed it. The judge added that he understood the difficulties of the case and that the appellate courts might not agree with his interpretation of the law.

DeLay was expected to post a $10,000 bond pending appeal. Speaking to the judge prior to sentencing, DeLay was defiant, even "arrogant," as he put it, insisting he was being prosecuted by vengeful Democrats solely because he had "fought the good fight, and run the race" for his political beliefs. "I am passionate, and very arrogant, and I am guilty of that," he said. "I believe in what I believe in, and I have fought for my conservative values."

DeLay traced the prosecution back to 1995, when he became congressional Republican majority leader, and said Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats had publicly threatened to "take him down." He blamed retired Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle for engaging in partisan politics in pursuing the prosecutions, and insisted he was guilty only of fighting for his convictions. "I can’t be remorseful," DeLay said, "for something I don’t think I did."

DeLay insisted that he had been selectively prosecuted for political activities common to all parties, and only because the Democratic prosecutors "disagreed with [his] politics." He said he never intended to break the law, that he had always "played within the rules," but that the Democrats "announced in 1995 that they were going to get me." He denounced the "criminalization of politics" and said the prosecution had taken a heavy toll on him and his family, especially his wife.

He concluded, "I’ve fought the good fight, I’ve run the race, and I accept your judgment."