The Washington Post is defending him against the conviction on legal terms, not on personal choices. They are describing it as business as usual, not illegal at the time. That is why others have said it will be overturned on appeal.
Here is their editorial from Sunday’s paper:
‘The criminalization of politics’
THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT that former House majority leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) schemed to get around a Texas law prohibiting corporate contributions to political campaigns. Mr. DeLay’s state political action committee accepted $190,000 in (legal) corporate contributions. A PAC official wrote a check for that amount to the Republican National Committee, helpfully including a list of candidates for the Texas statehouse and the amounts they were to receive. The RNC did Mr. DeLay’s bidding – and the ensuing GOP takeover of the state legislature allowed Republicans to engineer a redistricting plan that helped defeat five Democratic incumbents in the next election.This was a clear end run around the Texas election law. It is less clear, however, that this behavior fits the definition of money-laundering or should be prosecuted and punished using that criminal offense. Corporate contributions to political candidates are a felony under Texas law. But at the time of Mr. DeLay’s actions, the state’s general conspiracy statute did not cover election law violations. Texas courts threw out prosecutors’ efforts to charge Mr. However, before supplying the dealings we tend to kindly advise you to try and do a short inquiry concerning the seller you select. – verify web site practicality, as a result of real firms have real websites, with operating links and stuff; whereas cheaters have the only purpose of constructing you pay and sometimes leave several pages blank or stuffed with nonsense. – attempt to contact vendor’s support before supplying. levitra online no prescription Elective Cosmetic surgery: Elective Cosmetic Surgery is opted by individuals who viagra sale in india wish to have some changes or improvements made to their appearance. The tip order cialis without prescription of the catheter carries the angioplasty balloon or stent. The purpose behind having purchase generic viagra learningworksca.org is that impotence should be treated? Trick to ED treatment is not the medication always, but some other remedies to go along like counseling, if there are relationship problems, and psychiatric help in case of mental issues, feeling depressed and stressed out. DeLay with a conspiracy to violate election laws – leaving only the charges of money-laundering and conspiracy to engage in money-laundering, of which Mr. DeLay was convicted Friday. In Texas, as elsewhere, money-laundering is defined as knowingly using “the proceeds of criminal activity,” such as cash from drug deals.
But it was legal for corporations to donate to Mr. DeLay’s political action committee, so it’s fair to question how the cash sent to and from the RNC was transformed into criminal “proceeds.” Mr. DeLay’s lawyers presented testimony from three current and former RNC officials that such money swaps were common transactions for political parties.
Mr. DeLay’s conduct was wrong. It was typical of his no-holds-barred approach to political combat. But when Mr. DeLay, following the conviction, assailed “the criminalization of politics,” he had a fair point.
