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LEBANON, TENNESSEE - The former treasurer of a political action committee operated by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Incorporated has been arraigned on charges of stealing more than $70,000 from the organization...... "Forth was manager of political affairs for the National Restaurant Association in Washington, D.C., from January 1997 until April 1998."

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay said yesterday that Republicans have done so well in cutting spending that he declared an “ongoing victory,” and said there is simply no fat left to cut in the federal budget. Mr. DeLay was defending Republicans’ choice to borrow money and add to this year’s expected $331 billion deficit to pay for Hurricane Katrina relief. Some Republicans have said Congress should make cuts in other areas, but Mr. DeLay said that doesn’t seem possible... Asked if that meant the government was running at peak efficiency, Mr. DeLay said, “Yes, after 11 years of Republican majority...

On January 10, 2011, former Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, Tom Delay, was sentenced to three years in jail for his participation in a money laundering conspiracy. Now, his attorney blames the Tea Party, in part, for his conviction. (snip) DeLay's attorney, Dick DeGuerin, explained the Tea Party connection by saying, "We went to trial on the very day people across the country, voters, rebelled against politics." While DeLay presumably does not differ much ideologically from the Tea Party, their inconveniently timed uprising might have irritated liberal jury members, who took their wrath out on Delay.

With Texas judge Pat Priest imposing a sentence of three years in prison on former House majority leader Tom DeLay, it is not an exaggeration to say that this is the culmination of an undeserved, unjustified, and unconscionable act of political persecution. It is the result of an abusive prosecution that exemplifies the drive to criminalize politics and to make the ordinary processes of raising and spending funds for political campaigns a crime. The man who should be on trial in Texas is Ronnie Earle, the unethical Travis County prosecutor who went after DeLay as part of a political vendetta...

judge has ordered U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay to serve three years in prison for his role in a scheme to illegally funnel corporate money to Texas candidates in 2002. The sentence comes after a jury in November convicted DeLay on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. DeLay was once one of the most powerful men in U.S. politics, ascending to the No. 2 job in the House of Representatives. The former Houston-area congressman had faced up to life in prison. His attorneys asked for probation.

Tom DeLay sentenced to 3-years in prison.

AUSTIN, Texas – Prosecutors abruptly concluded presenting their case in the sentencing hearing of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, convicted last year on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

I cannot help but notice the overwhelming silence from the GOP on the matter of ex-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's prosecution and trial. Ever since he was forced to step down back in 2005, he has been in a kind of limbo or worse. Two things stand out to me: He was extremely focused and effective in his efforts -- none of which benefited him personally but which benefited his party and his state immensely. His success has earned him the abandonment of his party's members. No one says a peep about him. He may as well have dropped off...

Around Washington, Rep. Tom DeLay was known as "the Hammer." It's a title he earned for his effective ness when he served in the role of majority whip. The whip is the person tasked with counting votes and building support for legislation. As whip, Mr. DeLay was uniquely effective at enacting and implementing the Contract With America and key portions of the George W. Bush agenda. He also was able to flex his political muscle within the state of Texas to leave his mark on the redistricting process. Tom DeLay was a very skilled politician. He understood the legislative and...

Don't let anyone claim that liberal talk radio show hosts don't wish for bad things to happen. On Monday's show, Randi Rhodes was giddy about the prospect of global warming causing the oceans to rise enough to engulf Rush Limbaugh's Florida home: And so, the global warming deniers -- like Rush Limbaugh, whose house I can't wait until the ocean swells and eats his house -- and he will be the first to go because he's got the best location! He's on Palm Beach, which is nothing but a little island...a long, skinny, little sliver of billion dollars worth of...

For five years, the case against Tom DeLay for money laundering through his Texans for a Republican Majority PAC has been seemingly trapped in the Texas courts facing pre-trial appeals. On November 1, it finally made it to trial and today the verdict is in: guilty on both money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The slightly-less-than-humble DeLay lost his majority leadership in Congress after the indictment came down, but he has maintained his claims that this case was politically motivated throughout the entire process right up to defense attorney Dick DeGuerin's closing arguments. The jury clearly didn't buy...

Jurors considering the political money laundering case against former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on Tuesday delved deep into the evidence, but asked so many legal questions that the judge warned them that they were getting off track... DeLay had with him a copy of Empire of the Summer Moon, a recent nonfiction book about the Comanche people and their famed chief, Quanah Parker, and a TouchPoint Bible that allows readers to find Scripture relevant to their lives. "No demons, nor angels nor DAs can keep you separated from the love of Jesus Christ," DeLay said, playing off of...

Five years after former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay demanded a speedy trial on political money laundering charges, a Travis County jury is now determining his fate. The six-man, six-woman panel showed up at court Monday with a majority of the members dressed in black. They elected one of the women as foreman. And when they returned three times to the courtroom to ask the judge questions during their four hours of deliberation, they all looked away from DeLay. The jurors also were asking visiting Judge Pat Priest questions that indicated they were buying into DeLay's defense that no...

Testimony in Tom DeLay's money-laundering trial ended in Austin, Texas, without the former House majority leader testifying. Closing arguments are set for Monday, the Houston Chronicle reported. DeLay said after Thursday's court session he got to make his case when prosecutors played his 2005 interview with Chris Wallace of Fox News. "The reason I didn't testify is there was no need to. … I can't believe the prosecution finished their case with my testimony," he said. In the interview, DeLay said he knew of a money swap between his Texans for a Republican Majority and the Republican National Committee, but...

...Prosecutors contend that the former House majority leader used his PAC to illegally funnel $190,000 in corporate donations into Texas legislative races eight years ago. DeLay, who was spending Election Day in court, is charged with money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He has denied any wrongdoing. If convicted, Delay could face up to life in prison... Ceverha said corporate funds had been gathered to pay for the PAC's administrative costs and not for candidates. ...The money helped Republicans in 2002 take control of the Texas House. That majority allowed Republicans to push through a congressional redistricting plan...

AUSTIN, Texas — A jury was chosen Tuesday in the trial of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, a once powerful but polarizing politician accused of illegally financing Texas GOP legislative races in 2002. The panel of six men and six women, along with two alternates, was selected after attorneys spent more than eight hours quizzing potential jurors about whether their political beliefs could interfere in their ability to make an impartial decision. Most said it wouldn't affect them........ DeLay is charged with money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted of money laundering, he faces...

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, will be tried on money laundering charges in Austin, a Texas judge ruled Wednesday. The ruling came as part of pretrial hearings during which DeLay argued he should be tried in Houston, near his home, because the case involves election matters, the Austin American-Statesman reported. His attorney, Dick DeGuerin also argued DeLay could not get a fair trial in Travis County. "I know there's negative feeling about Tom DeLay -- and it's strong," Senior District Judge Pat Priest said, adding DeLay could get a fair trial nonetheless....

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) said the Democratic Party's strong ground game could stave off midterm losses. Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) on Wednesday warned Republicans not to underestimate Democrats this fall. DeLay, fresh off having the Justice Department drop a federal investigation against him, said GOP wins in the midterm elections aren't "a given" due to the strength of the grassroots infrastructure Democrats built in 2006 and 2008. "Over the last ten years, the Democrats, particularly the Democrats in the House, have put together one of the most powerful grassroots coalitions that I've ever seen,"...

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) said the Democratic Party's strong ground game could stave off midterm losses. Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) on Wednesday warned Republicans not to underestimate Democrats this fall. DeLay, fresh off having the Justice Department drop a federal investigation against him, said GOP wins in the midterm elections aren't "a given" due to the strength of the grassroots infrastructure Democrats built in 2006 and 2008. "Over the last ten years, the Democrats, particularly the Democrats in the House, have put together one of the most powerful grassroots coalitions that I've ever seen,"...

AUSTIN — Former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on Monday put the 5-year-old federal investigation into his relationship with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff behind him and turned his attention to an impending trial on Texas ethics issues. DeLay said federal prosecutors told his attorneys last week that he had been "cleared" of any criminal violations in their investigation of Abramoff. The formerRepublican lawmaker, who represented Sugar Land from 1984 to 2006, also said he is ready for up to three days of pre-trial hearings slated to start Aug. 24 in Austin on a state money-laundering charge related to campaign...

The Justice Department has dropped its case against former House Majority Leader, Tom Delay, and Newsweek's Eleanor Clift is in mourning. She just can't accept the fact that there was no substance to the charges against DeLay and ascribes the dropping of the case to the Obama Justice Department trying to score points with Republicans in the interest of bipartisanship. Clift also manages to smear the late former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens in her angst over the dropped charges: The Justice Department’s decision to let former House majority leader Tom DeLay off the hook and end the six-year-long investigation that...

Feds Clear DeLay. He Calls Pelosi “The Swamp”Chad Pergram | August 16, 2010 It's been a long time since former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) got the chance to come out swinging in public. But that's exactly what the feisty former GOP leader did Monday when the Justice Department told his attorneys it closed its inquiry of DeLay after a six year probe. DeLay was his vintage himself during a telephone conference call with reporters. "They didn't have anything," DeLay boasted. "The case was so weak I never did meet with anyone from the Justice Department and never appeared...

The Justice Department has informed former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) that the government has ended a six-year investigation of his ties to the disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, according to DeLay's lead counsel in the matter, Richard Cullen, chairman of McGuireWoods. The investigation lasted through two presidents and four attorneys general. Its demise provides a stark footnote to the lobbying scandals that helped Democrats regain the House majority they held for 40 years and lost in the Republican revolution of 1994, which eventually made the pugnacious DeLay one of Washington’s top power brokers.

WASHINGTON—A lawyer for Tom DeLay said Monday that the Justice Department has ended an investigation of the former congressman and won't file criminal charges. One of Mr. DeLay's lawyers, Richard Cullen, said the Justice Department's Office of Public Integrity informed Mr. DeLay's legal team early last week that it was ending the investigation. Justice Department spokeswoman Laura Sweeney declined to comment, which is normally the case when the department ends a criminal probe without filing charges.

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has ended its six-year criminal probe of the ties between former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and disgraced ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff without filing any criminal charges against the former congressman. One of DeLay's lawyers, Richard Cullen, said Monday the Justice Department's Office of Public Integrity informed DeLay's legal team early last week that it was ending the investigation. "Six years is a long time and I'm sure he wishes it had happened years ago," Cullen said of the conclusion of the investigation. Cullen added that "for me, the result trumps the timing." Justice Department spokeswoman...

Press Releases Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami 202-226-7616 For Immediate Release 03/03/2010 Pelosi Statement on Chairman Charles Rangel Washington, D.C - Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement this morning on Chairman Charles B. Rangel: "Chairman Charlie Rangel has informed me of his request for a leave of absence from his duties and responsibilities as Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means. I will honor his request. "I commend Chairman Rangel for his decades of leadership on jobs, health care, and the most significant economic issues of the day."

Labor leader Linda Chavez-Thompson won the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor on Tuesday, capturing 53 percent of the primary vote against two opponents. She now faces incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in the fall in a race that will be an uphill battle for the Democrat. Chavez-Thompson used her support from labor and Hispanic groups to establish a strong position in the race and also outspent her opponents - including former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle - by a substantial margin. Chavez-Thompson, 65, of San Antonio, is a former executive vice president of the AFL-CIO and a vice...

Much that is wrong with Congress was well illustrated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's inability to answer a straightforward question about the ethical lapses of one of her most powerful members. Elizabeth Vargas of ABC News asked Pelosi on Sunday whether House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel should have known it was a violation of ethics rules to accept Caribbean trips paid for by special interests.Here's the exchange:

By now, millions of Americans are familiar with Anita Dunn, who recently resigned her post as Barack Obama’s White House Communications Director after it was learned that she had previously cited Mao Zedong, the late Communist dictator and mass murderer, as one of her “favorite political philosophers.” By contrast, few people know anything substantive about Dunn’s husband, Robert Bauer, who has replaced Gregory Craig as President Obama’s White House Counsel. Craig resigned abruptly on November 13, after having repeatedly denied, for weeks, that he had any plans of stepping down. A 1976 graduate of the University of Virginia School of...

Former House majority leader Tom Delay, who last night dropped out of ABC's "Dancing With The Stars," has once again expressed skepticism that President Obama is a citizen of the United States. That aligns DeLay, a Republican once known as "The Hammer," with the so-called "birther" movement. The birthers' claims have repeatedly been shown to be illegitimate. Newsweek noted in an interview with DeLay that he "got into some trouble for saying on TV that you weren't sure President Obama was born in the United States." "What I said was, to answer a question from Chris Matthews, I said:...

WASHINGTON – Former Republican House majority leader Tom DeLay says he has "no idea" whether Barack Obama is constitutionally eligible to serve as president because he refuses to show his birth certificate to the American people. In answer to a question from Newsweek about statements he previously made with regard to Obama's eligibility, he stated: "What I said was, to answer a question from Chris Matthews, I said: 'Why wouldn't the president of the United States show the American people his birth certificate?' You have to show a birth certificate to play little league baseball. It's a question that should...

Gasp -- another double elimination! This was the second time that Season 9 ended with not one, but two couples who had their run for the coveted Mirrorball trophy cut short. Maybe it was because she never made all her steps ignite, or maybe it was because the two different pronunciations of her name confused viewers and split her votes, but actress Debi Mazar just couldn’t muster up enough fan support to make it past the third week. And after several news reports that he was dropping out, Tom DeLay, who performed his samba with stress fractures, announced that he...

Tom DeLay is gearing up to quit ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” as a result of stress fractures in both of his feet, according to a report from People magazine. The former Republican House Majority Leader will withdraw on tonight’s live results show, according to People. He was advised by his doctors not to perform with partner Cheryl Burke on Monday’s show, but did so anyway. During the broadcast, he told fans and judges, “What’s a little pain when we can party.” While the judges praised him for his effort, he did not score well and finished second to last....

The Hammer on Dancing with the Stars went against the advise of the show Producer and wore a red outfit with the GOP elephant on the back...(Link to the video added)

From Cloris Leachman to Evander Holyfield, Tatum O’Neal to Jerry Springer , Priscilla Presley to Steve-O. You’d think we’d seen it all on ABC TV’s “Dancing With The Stars.” But those crafty “Dancing With The Stars” producers just keep surprising us with something unusual each season. The contestant choices are designed to keep us on our toes, but more often I think they just keep our fingers on the remote. In the interest of better judgment, here are ten celebrities I hope we never, ever have to see as “Dancing With The Stars” contestants! Britney Spears: Haven’t we had just...

Long before he danced with the stars, then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay two-stepped all over fellow Texas Rep. Ron Paul's hopes of overseeing the Federal Reserve, according to an account provided by House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank. In a broader interview with my colleagues Phil Mattingly and Benton Ives, Frank offered this assessment of how DeLay and other GOP leaders tiptoed around giving Paul -- who wants to abolish the Fed -- the gavel of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over it: "In 2003, Ron Paul was in line to be chairman of the Domestic Monetary Policy Subcommittee of...

Tom DeLay is Cha-Cha-ing back into the GOP fray, telling PoliticsDaily.com that he thinks the Republican Party is leaderless - and doesn't have the organizational capacity to take back the Hill anytime soon. The former majority leader, taking a break from "Dancing with the Stars," blasts the Dem's health care reform plans but says his old allies are virtually helpless to stop it. The Hammer: "Republicans will pick up some seats in the House, maybe 20, but not enough to take back control." Shaking his head with frustration, he added, "The Republican Party doesn't have the organization or leadership to...

Ok, he's on Dancing with the Stars...is this an attempt to show his softer side to appeal to more?

The cha-cha-cha is just three small steps in a Latin dance but last night it was one giant step for Tom DeLay. The former House Majority Leader stole the show on “Dancing With the Stars,” the popular cringe-fest D-list celebrity reclamation project on ABC. Touted as the program’s “highest-ranking star,” DeLay partnered with ballroom pro (and two-time winner) Cheryl Burke for a booty-shaking, lip-syncing, winking number set to the tune of “Wild Thing.” And if you wanna know for sure: The whitest man in America can dance. In a mud-brown vest trimmed with sequins and matching sansabelt trousers straight out...

I turn on Dancing with the Stars, and who do I see? Tom Delay! There is also Mark Dacascos the Chairman of Iron Chef America of whom I’m a big fan, so it’s going to be tough “taking sides”. What a surprise! Now let’s see Tom Delay dance! My daughter is in martial arts, so I’m sort wanna’ go with Dacascos, and the added factor that I love Iron Chef America and I love Japanese culture (of course I don’t think Mark is Japanese? Not sure) … You know, I got to give it to Tom DeLay. Gosh, he must...

Wow... He's dancing with Cheryl... She's my favorite! Lucky stiff.

Good God, now I've seen everything. The "Hammer", Tom Delay is a contestant on "Dancing with the Stars"....

No one would have guessed that Tom DeLay's next career move would involve dancing, so the announcement that the former House Majority Leader would be a contestant on the upcoming season of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" raised the eyebrows of politicos everywhere. The network has now released some promo photos of DeLay with his dancing partner, Cheryl Burke. DeLay appears to enjoying his new role, sporting sweat pants and a shirt from his organization Rio Bend, which works to improve the nation's foster care system. His own slimmer waistline can be attributed to the personal trainer he's been using...

Here is video of former GOP House Majority Leader Tom Delay on with Chris Matthews where he came right out and asked Matthews to ask President Obama to produce his birth certificate. Matthews had asked DeLay if he was a "birther," and Delay answered, "I would like the President to produce his birth certificate." Matthews proceeded to laugh at him. Delay went on to point out that Democrats had questioned whether he was a citizen of Texas, requiring him to produce proof that he was. Delay said he could produce his birth certificate and said he thought Obama ought to...

[/caption] The Left presents itself as the party of enlightened tolerance, manning the garrisons against right-wing hatemongers who are eager to turn back the clock to the Dark Ages (the 1950s). But last night on MSNBC’s Hardball, Chris Matthews used a Fifties-era phrase coined to mock homosexuals. Matthews’ guest, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, began the segment by plugging his upcoming appearance on Dancing with the Stars. The 62-year-old Texan joked that he found only one drawback to his new gig, holding up the shoe he must wear. That inspired this exchange: Matthews: That’s a little pump, isn’t it?...

Former Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay said Wednesday that he loves watching the White House and Democrats in Congress struggle to control the health care debate. “I love their arrogance. They just keep digging the hole deeper and deeper and deeper,” DeLay said of Democratic leaders during an interview on conservative host Sean Hannity’s radio show. “I love what the American people are doing to the Democrats,” he said in reference to the recent raucous town halls. “I’m sitting back and watching, and it’s just amazing.” DeLay insisted that Republicans are winning the health care debate and urged GOP...

<p>'Constitution specifically says you have to be natural born citizen'</p> <p>WASHINGTON – Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay pulled no punches on Chris Matthews "Hardball"show on MSNBC today when asked if he is a "birther."</p> <p>"Well, I’d like the president to produce his birth certificate," said DeLay. "I can. Most illegal aliens here in America can. Why can't the president of the United States produce his birth certificate? ...</p>

WASHINGTON – Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay pulled no punches on Chris Matthews "Hardball"show on MSNBC today when asked if he is a "birther." "Well, I’d like the president to produce his birth certificate," said DeLay. "I can. Most illegal aliens here in America can. Why can't the president of the United States produce his birth certificate? ... Chris, will you do me a favor? Will you ask the president to show me his gift certificate — I mean, his birth certificate?" DeLay's outspokenness on the subject stands in stark contrast to any current member of Congress. Implying Barack...

WASHINGTON, DC – Tom DeLay has announced he will be appearing on Dancing with the Stars. Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has announced he will be competing on the 9th season of the popular dancing program. Many in Washington are in no way surprised. DeLay was House Majority Leader during George W Bush’s first term. He rose to national prominence for openly redistricting election zones to favor Republicans, and his role in the Terri Schiavo case. Lesser known is that during during his entire Washington career he remained an avid member of the amateur competitive dance circuit. While serving...

NEW YORK -- Former House Republican Leader Tom DeLay needs to put his dancing shoes on. The former Texas congressman is joining 15 celebrities from the worlds of entertainment and sports on the new season of "Dancing With the Stars" on ABC starting next month. The cast will also feature singers Mya, Macy Gray, Aaron Carter and Donny Osmond, and actors Ashley Hamilton, Melissa Joan Hart and Debi Mazar. There will also be models Joanna Krupa and Kathy Ireland.