DeLay Acquittal Long Overdue, Scarborough Says

“Justice was a long time coming, but we’re thankful that it’s here,” said Vision America Action Chairman and Tea Party Unity founder Rick Scarborough.

AUSTIN (Sept. 19, 2013) – The money-laundering conviction of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, which was seen as politically motivated even by some of DeLay’s harshest media critics, was overturned today by the Texas Third Court of Appeals.

“We are gratified and relieved that the truth finally came out, which was that Tom DeLay did not do wrong and that he has been vilified based on a politically charged prosecution that had no grounds,” Scarborough said.

“We’re proud to have Tom on the Steering Committee for Tea Party Unity Project, where his unparalleled political experience has been priceless. Justice was a long time coming, but we’re thankful that it’s here.”

The court majority said that, “The evidence was legally insufficient to sustain DeLay’s convictions” and “the evidence shows that the defendants were attempting to comply with the election code limitations on corporate contributions.”

“The acquittal means DeLay cannot be retried and the money laundering case is over,” USA Today reported. “DeLay, now 67, left Congress in 2006. He served as majority leader, the House’s No. 2 job and top lieutenant to the speaker, from 2003 to 2005….

“DeLay was convicted by a jury in November 2010 for illegally funneling $190,000 in corporate money via the Republican National Committee to help elect GOP candidates to the Texas Legislature in 2002. The RNC then in turn sent checks to Texas House candidates. State law prohibits corporations from giving directly to political candidates and their campaigns.

“DeLay was sentenced to three years in prison on a conspiracy charge and five years for money laundering. He remained free while he was appealing his case. For years, DeLay had maintained his innocence and denounced what he called the ‘criminalization of politics.’”

“We’re grateful to God that Tom can now go on with his life without this vendetta hanging over his head,” Scarborough said.