Texas jury convicts former Republican leader Tom DeLay of money laundering

Justice has been served:

Tom DeLay, the former U.S. House majority leader whose name became synonymous with the Republicans’ controversial rise to power in the Texas House, was found guilty this evening of laundering money in connection with the 2002 elections.

Jurors sent a note on yellow legal paper that a verdict had been reached to the judge at 4:46 p.m. They had deliberated for nearly 19 hours, since Monday afternoon.

The unanimous verdict on two criminal charges was read to a hushed courtroom three minutes later. DeLay, who moments earlier had been smiling, appeared shocked as the 12 jurors — six men and six women — reported their decision one by one.

No doubt DeLay thought that at least one juror would side with him and effectively nix a guilty verdict. But he got what he deserved.

He had his day in court and he lost.

DeLay will be free for another month until sentencing. He'll be back in court to learn his fate on December 20th, just five days before Christmas.

He is facing up to life in prison and a not insignificant fine. It's unlikely he will be sentenced to the maximum, but even if he serves only a fourth of his time, he'll still be incarcerated for the next twenty years.

We at NPI applaud this verdict and thank Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg for prosecuting DeLay. We believe this case — and its outcome — sends a strong message that nobody is above the law.

DeLay is unfortunately just one of many powerful right wing politicians who think the rules don't apply to him. He's just found out to his cost that there are still public servants in America who are committed to holding lawbreakers accountable no matter who they are, and won't be intimidated by bluster or money.