For years now I've had to put up with conservatives telling me that former House #2 Republican leader, Tom DeLay, had done nothing wrong. Well, a jury in Texas seems to disagree. I know that many people are rejoicing right now. I wish they wouldn't. I will not rejoice at another man's downfall. It seemed to me that Tom DeLay knew where the boundaries were and stepped all over those boundaries. (Look for conservatives to attack the jury. Soon we will know how many Republicans and how many Democrats were on the jury. There will be cries about how "liberal" the jury was. Let's get one thing straight, (and this is from someone, me, who has lived in Texas most of his life), there is no such thing as a liberal jury in Texas.)

From the Austin Stateman:

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.

DeLay, at one time one of the most powerful men in Washington, was charged with money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He faces a possible sentence of five to 99 years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine on the money laundering charge, and two to 20 years in prison and a possible $10,000 fine on the conspiracy charge. (more...)