News Arrest warrant issued for Tom Delay

[Gokul43201]

I've heard that campaign money may be used by Congressmen to pay legal fees, if the charges are directly related to the lawmakers' duties. There seems to be some amount of fuzz in this law, but it appears that DeLay will be able to use his million or so dollars for his legal defense.

(Cunningham was eventually allowed to use his warchest, but James Trafficant was not.)

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/5e09b734-c4ca-11da-b7c1-0000779e2340.html

 

[Astronuc]

As I understand the law, members of Congress may keep unspent campaign funds for personal use! That could be millions of dollars.

You bet that money influences the decisions in Congress!

 

[Gokul43201]

In somewhat related news:

Jury finds DeLay guilty of money laundering

Friday, Tom DeLay was convicted of felony money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

A Travis County jury went through state’s evidence for nearly 19 hours, before finding him guilty.

The verdict confirms the state's claims that said DeLay illegally pumped corporate dollars into Texas elections.

More here: http://www.news8austin.com/content/headlines/275351/jury-finds-delay-guilty-of-money-laundering

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I just got done watching "Casino Jack and the United States of Money" on netflix instant. It chronicles the Jack Abramoff and Tom DeLay story. Very fascinating but makes you very ominous of all the backdoor deals going on in politics.

 

[WhoWee]

I realize DeLay is not a very well-liked fellow, but a possible 99 years for the crime he's convicted of "DeLay was found guilty of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, court bailiff Gilbert Soto said. He was accused of funneling $190,000 to help elect Republicans to the state House and Senate in 2002." seems a bit excessive.

I say this because I've been watching another case with great interest.
http://www.vindy.com/news/2010/sep/01/details-emerge-in-flora-cafaro-yavorcik-/
"Yavorcik failed to list the true source of the $15,000 on his campaign-finance report by concealing the actual funding source and misrepresenting the payment for the poll as an in-kind contribution from Yavorcik, himself, the prosecutors said.

Yavorcik and Flora Cafaro conducted the financial transactions “knowing the property involved was the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity and did so in a manner calculated to conceal or disguise the nature, location, source, ownership or control of the property or to avoid a transaction reporting requirement” under federal or state law, the prosecutors alleged.

The check signed by Flora Cafaro “was disguised to look like a payment for legal services on behalf of her son’s business” and was instead used to pay for the election poll, the prosecutors said.

The money-laundering charge is a third-degree felony, carrying a fine up to $10,000 and a prison term of one to five years.
Flora Cafaro and Yavorcik’s names are contained at the end of a 73-count Mahoning County grand-jury indictment issued July 28.

But they are not among the eight defendants charged with conspiring criminally to prevent or delay the move of the Mahoning County Department of Job and Family Services to Oakhill Renaissance Place.

JFS moved in July 2007 from Cafaro Co.-owned rented quarters to Oakhill, which the county had purchased in 2006. Oakhill is the former Forum Health Southside Medical Center.

Those charged with conspiracy and other criminal counts are Cafaro Sr.; the Cafaro Co. and its affiliates, the Ohio Valley Mall Co. and the Marion Plaza Inc.; Mahoning County Commissioner John A. McNally IV; county Auditor Michael V. Sciortino; former county Treasurer John B. Reardon; and John Zachariah, former county JFS director."

The Cafaro family is one of the nations largest shopping mall developers. One family member was the owner of the failed Avanti Motors venture and was also involved in the scandal that brought down Congressman Jim Trafficant.
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/03/john_cafaro_pleads_guilty_to_c.html
"Cafaro, who made millions as a mall developer, said in a written statement last month that his daughter was not involved in the illegal loan. Capri Cafaro said she learned the money was given to her campaign manager at the time, B.J. Schuerger.

Schuerger is now a lobbyist in Columbus. His attorney, John Climaco, said last month that Schuerger did nothing wrong by accepting the loan.

The charge against John Cafaro stated that in 2004 "he caused the responsible official of the Capri Cafaro for Congress Committee to file with the FEC a quarterly report that falsely stated that he had contributed only $2,000 for the general election campaign," knowing he had also given the $10,000 loan to a member of the campaign staff.

In 2002, John Cafaro was fined $150,000 and placed on probation for bribing former U.S. Rep. Jim Traficant. John Cafaro cooperated with prosecutors in their case against Traficant, who was convicted of corruption and sentenced to eight years in prison. "

Almost forgot this one...
http://media.www.thejambar.com/media/storage/paper324/news/2002/03/21/News/Cafaro.Ysu.Site.Of.Bribe-220312.shtml
"A local businessman whose family has given millions to YSU says he slipped U.S. Rep. James Traficant Jr. $13,000 while visiting campus.

John "J.J." Cafaro told federal prosecutors Monday that he offered the cash bribe to Traficant in exchange for legislative favors for a Cafaro-owned business.

A witness in Traficant's bribery and racketeering trial, Cafaro said Traficant accepted $13,000 in cash after the two left an economic development meeting at the Phelps Building."

But the story had a happy ending...
http://www.wytv.com/content/news/local/story/Cafaro-Spared-Jail-Time/kA_3sH3CY0OBNufd1PJmGA.cspx
""He clearly had told the judge he was ashamed and recognized what he did," said attorney Ralph Cascarilla. "He was very forthright."

Cafaro admitted in March to making a $10,000 contribution in the form of a loan to his daughter Ohio Sen. Capri Cafaro's 2004 election campaign. This amount is well above the $2,000 maximum allowed by the Federal Election Commission.

Judge Kathleen O'Malley sentenced Cafaro to three years probation and a $250,000 fine. During the hearing, she told him that this charge is not as serious as the one he faced in 2002. At that time, Cafaro was convicted of bribing former Congressman Jim Traficant. The judge also sentenced Cafaro to 150 hours of community service. She left it up to him and his probation officer to determine exactly what he will do. His attorney said Cafaro is looking forward to helping his community.

Cafaro had to meet with probation officers following the hearing and was not available to talk to the media."

 

[Gokul43201]

Maybe it's 5 yrs for every $10,000.

 

[Office_Shredder]

99 years is the maximum penalty allowed by law; I don't think he's going to get anywhere near that amount of time. It's probably there for some sort of Al Capone styled takedown