A new Tom DeLay scandal to watch?

I’ve seen potential scandals surrounding House Majority Leader Tom DeLay arise before, only to be disappointed. But spring is a time of renewal and hope, so the latest questions surrounding DeLay lead me to some inklings of optimism.

Four years ago, The New Republic reported on DeLay’s apparently conflicting statements under oath stemming from a lawsuit against a bug spray company he worked for. The long and the short of it was DeLay made an effort to shield himself from liability in the case and testified — under oath — that he was not an officer of the business. Three months later, DeLay acknowledged in congressional financial disclosure statement that he was the company’s “chairman of the board.” One or the other was true, but not both. The New Republic’s article caused a stir for a few weeks, was reported in a few other outlets, but much to my chagrin, it died down before DeLay got into any real trouble.

Now we’re learning of a new problem for the House Majority Leader, one that has already prompted a grand jury investigation in Texas.

Over the weekend, the Houston Chronicle reported on the potential transgressions committed by a DeLay-created political action committee that may have improperly used corporate contributions for partisan political work.

DeLay created a PAC called the “Texans for a Republican Majority,” which worked to support GOP candidates to the Texas legislature. The group raised more than $520,000 in corporate contributions, and may have illegally used corporate money for political activities.

More importantly, a grand jury is looking into whether DeLay’s Texas PAC coordinated its activities with the Texas Association of Business, a state lobbying group, in order to help GOP candidates in 20 specific Texas House districts. Apparently, DeLay’s group sent out exact copies of the lobbying association’s campaign mailings on behalf of a state House candidate, drawing the attention of prosecutors.

Is DeLay worried about all this? Perhaps. During his weekly press briefing yesterday, a reporter asked about the investigation. DeLay responded, “That’s not on the agenda.”

Jim Ellis, the political director for DeLay’s PAC, told the Chronicle this investigation is symptomatic of those pesky campaign-finance laws. “This is the over-reaching nature of this ridiculous campaign law that curtails free speech while we have soldiers dying…to fight for these freedoms,” he said. Ah patriotism, the last refuge of a scoundrel.

Maybe something will come of this, maybe not. But this does sound a bit like the troubles that hung around Newt Gingrich’s neck for a while. I guy can hope, can’t he?