Tom DeLay "The Hammer" Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

DeLay at the Travis Co. Courthouse in Austin, Texas (AP)

(USA Today January 11, 2011) Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay was sentenced Monday to three years in prison for his role in a money-laundering case stemming from the 2002 elections.  DeLay, who was the second most powerful Republican in the House of Representatives, was convicted in November for illegally funneling $190,000 in corporate money through the Republican National Committee to help elect Republicans to the Texas Legislature during the 2002 elections.  Texas Judge Pat Priest sentenced DeLay to three years on a conspiracy charge and also sentenced him to five years in prison for money laundering.  Priest allowed DeLay to accept 10 years probation on the money-laundering charge, assuming he meets certain conditions set by the court.  DeLay could've received up to life in prison on the money-laundering and conspiracy charges. 

DeLay was immediately taken into custody.  However, Priest granted a request from his attorneys that he be released on a $10,000 bond pending appeal once he is processed at the county jail.  Prosecutors said it could mean DeLay will be free for months or even years as his appeal makes it through the Texas court system.  DeLay was nonchalant in court over the verdict.  "I can't be remorseful for something I don't think I did," he said.  DeLay stepped down from Congress and the no. 2 position in the House in 2006.  He held the no. 2 position from 2003 to 2005.  Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, DeLay's former boss, attested to the character of his top lieutenant in court Monday.  Hastert spoke of DeLay's conservative and religious values, his work helping foster children and the help he provided to the family of one of the police officers who was killed in a 1998 shooting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. 

DeLay, 63, maintained his innocence even after he was convicted last year, arguing a "miscarriage of justice" and denounced what he called "the criminalizaiton of politics."  DeLay's attorney Dick DeGuerin said he expected the conviction would be overturned.  "This will not stand," he said. 

How many other politicians in Congress have been guilty of money laundering such as DeLay and they're still serving in Congress?  I would speculate several.  DeLay's one politician that I'm glad is no longer in Congress.