by TChris

A Texas grand jury investigating the activities of Texans for a Republican Majority, or TRMPAC, has subpoenaed the campaign records of Tom Craddick, the Texas House Speaker whose efforts at redistricting caused Democratic lawmakers to flee Texas twice last year.

The grand jury has been investigating whether TRMPAC, a political action committee begun by U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, illegally used corporate donations to aid GOP candidates in 20 key Texas House races during the 2002 elections.

A victory in 15 of those races led to a Republican takeover of the lower chamber for the first time in more than 130 years. With the GOP majority, Mr. Craddick won his speakership and pressed a Republican-favored congressional redistricting plan that Mr. DeLay championed.

Although the grand jury investigation initially focused on whether money raised from corporations was spent to aid political candidates (a felony under Texas law), District Attorney Ronald Earle announced that the investigation broadened after "possible criminal conduct in connection with the race for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives was uncovered." Craddick's lawyer, Roy Minton, said that prosecutors told him last week that Craddick was not a target of the investigation. It seems that things have changed.