In the last couple of weeks, the Republicans’ drive to distance themselves from Tom DeLay has only intensified. A few weeks ago, Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-N.H.) announced he’d return contributions he’d received from DeLay; Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) did the same. A week later, Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R-Mo.) said he was not only giving back DeLay’s tainted money, he would also oppose DeLay’s return as Majority Leader no matter what happened in DeLay’s criminal trial.
This week, a fourth Republican colleague joined the list.
Ohio Rep. Steven LaTourette recently became the fourth GOP lawmaker to return campaign funds received from indicted ex-Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas).
LaTourette has donated $13,000 that he received from DeLay’s Americans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee to Hurricane Katrina relief funds. The six-term lawmaker has not commented publicly on his decision to give up the money, but he is informing constituents of his action when they ask about it.
“As a former prosecutor, I trust that the legal system will work and Tom DeLay, like every American, should have his day in court and should be afforded the presumption of innocence,” LaTourette wrote in a letter to Aurora, Ohio, resident Palmer Peterson dated Oct. 11. “However, in order to remove any questions that may arise about these contributions, I have made a donation in the same amount to the Bush-Clinton Katrina fund, which will help with relief efforts in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.”
And while DeLay’s support continues to erode on the Hill, he’s also suffering in other ways.
On the legal front, DeLay is demanding a quick trial, but his request for a new judge in his Texas case makes that impossible.
On the financial front, DeLay just got a pay cut now that he’s no longer a member of the leadership.
And on the public relations front, DeLay won a wicker basket at a county fair in Texas recently, which happened to come with a paper shredder inside. It offered DeLay’s opponent, former Rep. Nick Lampson (D), a chance to lampoon DeLay just a little more. “Nobody needs a paper shredder more than Tom DeLay,” Lampson’s campaign manager, Mike Malaise, told Roll Call. “This was a very practical purchase, and we’re sure the paper shredder will see a lot of use in the DeLay camp.” He said Houston may just see its second straight white Christmas “when it starts snowing TRMPAC documents this year.”
Tom DeLay may have been smiling wide for his mugshot last week, but he probably won’t be smiling again for quite a while.