DeLay Exits: Why Now?
Christy at Firedoglake thinks maybe the family squeeze got to DeLay. That's a distinct possibility. Rudy pleaded guilty and one of the concessions was his wife wouldn't be charged. I reported here on the closing of the Alexander Strategy Group and Buckham and on Isikoff's Newsweek piece about it:
The Washington Post has reported that in 2000, Abramoff and Buckham used their credit cards to pay for a trip to the United Kingdom for DeLay and his wife. Investigators are looking into Buckham's connection to DeLay's wife, Christine. She was paid $115,000 over three years by Alexander Strategy Group, a lobbying firm run by Buckham and Rudy, to identify the favorite charities of members of Congress.
TChris has more here.
The Washington Post points out that by resigning now, DeLay can use his campaign funds for legal fees.
DeLay also is entitled under federal election rules to convert any or all of the remaining funds from his reelection campaign to his legal expenses, whether or not he resigns, is indicted or loses the election. Election lawyers say one advantage of bowing out of the election now is that the campaign cash can be converted to pay legal bills immediately, instead of being drained in the course of a bid to stay in office.
| < Another Tuesday Open Thread | The Real Cover-Up in the Valerie Plame Investigation > |
