JUSIPER
Friday, March 31, 2006
Conspiracy
Breaking:
A former top aide to Rep. Tom DeLay pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy and promised to cooperate with the government's investigation of lobbying fraud.
Tony Rudy, DeLay's former deputy chief of staff, was told by a U.S. District judge that he could receive up to five years in prison but the sentence could be much less depending on his cooperation with prosecutors in the case, which earlier brought a guilty plea from lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Rudy is the second former aide to DeLay to plead guilty in the scandal.
As part of the deal for Rudy to plead guilty to the single felony conspiracy count, prosecutors agreed not pursue other possible charges against him or his wife.
Rudy, 39, stood with his head slightly bowed and his hands clasped in front of him as the judge detailed how he took free trips, tickets, meals and golf games from Abramoff while working for DeLay, who was then House Majority Leader.
Comments (1):
There's that magic word again.
Conspiracy.
It would be politically so much easier if the Delay thing was more like the Duke Cunningham thing. A crooked politician with a Rolls and a yacht is so much easier to present than a series cutouts and fake charities to evade election funding laws.
That's why the golf trip to Scotland, actually small potatoes in the grand scheme, got so much press. Crooked politician living high.
Mike
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