However, There's No Doubt That Tom Delay is a Cockroach of a Person

Inquiry Focuses on Group DeLay Created

AUSTIN, Tex. — A political action committee created by Tom DeLay, the House majority leader, enjoyed tremendous success here in 2002: all but 3 of 21 Republican candidates the committee backed for state representative won their races, helping the party take control of the Texas House.

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But local prosecutors and a grand jury here have been investigating the committee, Texans for a Republican Majority, including its use of corporate donations in the election, lawyers close to the case said.

Investigators are also examining whether there were violations of a law intended to curb the ability of outside groups to influence the race for House speaker, the lawyers said. The investigation follows a complaint filed with prosecutors last year by Texans for Public Justice, a campaign watchdog group.

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But [Jim] Ellis [Mr. DeLay's political aide] said the committee's main goals were to "elect Republicans and further the Republican agenda." He added that the investigation "seems to be getting to the point of being ridiculous" and that any mistakes by the committee "certainly weren't intentional."

I'll be the first to admit that in Texas, law tends to work on a sliding scale, depending on just how high up the ladder one has managed to crawl. In DeLay's case, he's not only way up said ladder, he's probably also managed to kick a few folks down a notch or two in the process--hence, the possibility that this is simply a case of quo pro quid. Still, it's nice to know that Tom will have to spend some effort covering his rear flank.