BREAKING: Tom DeLay found guilty on both counts, one of money laundering, and the other on conspiracy to commit money laundering. The former House Majority Leader could face up to life in prison. Jurors had been deliberating since Monday of this week. (19 hours total of deliberation). No word yet whether or not his creepy grin remains on his face.
ABC 13 has the story live from the courthouse. Some background information: He was convicted of laundering $190,000 in corporate campaign donations to the Legislative races in Texas in 2002.
From MSNBC.COM
The verdict came after a three-week trial in which prosecutors presented more than 30 witnesses and volumes of e-mails and other documents. DeLay's attorneys presented five witnesses. DeLay has chosen to have Senior Judge Pat Priest sentence him. He faces five years to life in prison on the money laundering charge and two to 20 years on the conspiracy charge. He also would be eligible for probation.
As written by the Austin American Statesman newspaper and brought to our attention by Magnifico in the comments, Texas still does not allow corporate money to be used in Texas statewide races, while the recent Citizens United case opened the floodgates for corporate money in federal races.
Prosecutors earlier said they believe the DeLay case is the first such criminal charge ever filed over Texas’ century-old prohibition on corporate contributions in state political races...
State law prohibits corporations from giving donations to candidates directly or indirectly