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.
