House GOP prepares for DeLay indictment

kos for Daily Kos

Daily Kos Staff

Tuesday November 16, 2004 · 3:06 PM PST

2004/11/16 · 15:06

They know what's coming.

House Republicans plan to change their rules in order to allow members indicted by state prosecutors to remain in a leadership post, a move designed to benefit Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) in case he is charged by a Texas grand jury that has indicted three of his political associates, GOP leaders said today.

The rules change, which leaders said is likely to be adopted Wednesday, comes as House Republicans return to Washington indebted to DeLay for the enhanced majority they won in this month's elections. DeLay led an aggressive redistricting effort in Texas last year that resulted in five Democratic House members retiring or losing reelection. It also triggered the grand jury inquiry into fundraising efforts related to the state legislature's redistricting actions.

In the modern GOP, power trumps the rule of law. The ends justify the (illegal) means. And in case anyone wonders why that rule existed in the first place:

House Republicans in 1993 -- trying to underscore the ethics problems of Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.), then-chairman of the Ways and Means Committee -- adopted the rule that requires a party leader to surrender his or her post if indicted by any grand jury, federal or state.

(Via the DCCC blog.)

House GOP prepares for DeLay indictment

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