DeLay pleased with Republican sweep
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On his way to court Wednesday, Tom DeLay said he was pleased with Tuesday’s Republican "tsunami." He also said he is proud of any influence he may have had in this year’s GOP victories.
In a rare mid-decade redistricting push, DeLay offered his political muscle to redraw congressional districts in 2003.
“Well, I hope I played a little part into it. A lot of the guys that are there now are from Texas came from our redistricting and we gained three more seats in Texas and that's pretty amazing,” he said. “So what every little bit I had to play, I am very proud of."
The former politician is in court in Travis County for felony conspiracy charges. In 2005, a grand jury indicted the former U.S. Congressman on charges of helping funnel nearly $200,000 in illegal corporate donations into statewide elections in 2002.
Prosecutors said DeLay oversaw the alleged illegal transfer of a $190,000 check. State law prohibits corporations from contributing to political campaigns.
Delay’s daughter, Danielle DeLay Garcia, testified Wednesday at the Travis County Criminal Justice Complex. She worked for her father as an event planner. State officials say she organized fundraisers that allowed DeLay to collect large sums of political contributions.
The trial is expected to last three weeks.