Tom DeLay’s Wife: ‘He Was Being Punished By The Liberals’

FILE- In this Sept. 19, 2012, file photo, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay speaks about his upcoming appeal on a money laundering conviction at his attorney's office in Houston. Attorneys for DeLay and the Trav... FILE- In this Sept. 19, 2012, file photo, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay speaks about his upcoming appeal on a money laundering conviction at his attorney's office in Houston. Attorneys for DeLay and the Travis County District Attorney’s Office were set to make oral arguments Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012 before the 3rd Court of Appeals. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, File) MORE LESS
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Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay’s (R-TX) wife told TPM on Thursday that the court decision to overturn her husband’s conviction for money laundering had “been a long time coming.”

Christine Furrh DeLay also offered a theory for why DeLay had been accused of conspiring to steer corporate money to political candidates in Texas in an effort to secure a Republican majority in the Texas legislature in 2002.

“It was just — he was being punished by the liberals, Democrats,” she said with a laugh. 

DeLay’s trial occurred in November 2010. He was initially convicted of money laundering of funds of $100,000 or more and conspiracy to commit money laundering of funds of $100,000 or more. He was sentenced to three years in prison, but was allowed to remain free on bail pending his appeal.

Since then, he has been engaged in a lenghty appeals process. The Texas Court of Appeals ruled  on Thursday “the evidence was legally insufficient to sustain DeLay’s convictions” and acquitted him of the charges. 

“It’s taken a damn long time,” Christine Furrh DeLay told TPM. 

Tom DeLay and his attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TPM. 

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