Bloomberg: DeLay Court Ruling Makes Leadership Vote More Likely (Update1)

Bloomberg
December 6, 2005

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=nifea&&sid=a413Iqim.qcU

Dec. 6 (Bloomberg) -- A Texas judge's decision to require former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay to stand trial on money- laundering charges makes it more likely that Republicans will hold an election to choose new leaders early next year.

The Texas trial may only be the beginning of DeLay's legal hurdles. A former DeLay aide, Michael Scanlon, last month pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bribe lawmakers and agreed to help a Justice Department investigation of lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

DeLay, 58, who once described Abramoff as a close friend, went on a golfing trip to the U.K. with the lobbyist in 2000. In October, investigators questioned the staff of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher over a visit DeLay made to her office while on the U.K. trip.

One Republican lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said several House Republicans are concerned that if DeLay returns he may be forced to step aside again should he be indicted by the Justice Department in connection with the Abramoff probe.

delay may be forced to step aside again. No thought whatsoever about honest leadership for the house of representatives, just the appearance of impropriety. He must have pictures of every republican member of congress having sex with animals or small boys. What a despicable and reprehensible cast of characters who are loyally supported by the worst of our populace.

He would be looking at real time and the Feds don't usually miss once they have an indictment.