Reading over the headlines about former DeLay aide [tag]Tony Rudy[/tag] pleading guilty yesterday, there seems to be some debate about whether, and to what extent, this is a disaster for the former House Majority Leader.
A former top aide to Representative [tag]Tom DeLay[/tag] pleaded guilty on Friday to charges that he accepted thousands of dollars in illegal gifts, including money funneled through a consulting firm he set up with his wife and travel by private jet to California, in return for influencing legislation on behalf of the lobbyist [tag]Jack Abramoff[/tag].
The plea agreement by the aide, Tony Rudy, a lobbyist who was Mr. DeLay’s deputy chief of staff from 1998 to 2000 and one of his closest advisers, makes Mr. Rudy the second former DeLay aide to admit wrongdoing in the corruption investigation centered on Mr. Abramoff.
One of the principal questions is how much DeLay knew about Rudy’s illegal conduct, which DeLay’s lawyers claim was entirely isolated. Given the track record, there’s ample reason to be skeptical.
Regardless, Rudy’s plea deal does raise a few interesting points. First, the deal mentions DeLay specifically, formally roping the lawmaker into the Abramoff deal for the first time in legal proceedings. Second, prosecutors flipped Rudy because they want to go higher up the chain — which strongly suggests DeLay is in their sights.
And third, as Josh Marshall notes, it’s amazing to consider Rudy in the broader context of the Circle o’ DeLay.
Key DeLay-wired lobbyist Jack Abramoff — convicted felon.
[tag]Michael Scanlon[/tag], former DeLay aide and spokesman — convicted felon.
Tony Rudy, former DeLay deputy chief of staff — convicted felon.
[tag]Ed Buckham[/tag], former DeLay Chief of Staff and pastor — implicated in Rudy’s plea, up front costs for lobby shop funded by Abramoff clients, helped funnel Russian oil-KGB money to DeLay, Inc.
Spokesman, Deputy Chief of Staff, Chief of Staff. A few aides here and a few aides there, and pretty soon you’ve got a whole org chart.
Indeed, DeLay, who has already facing multiple criminal indictments and has been investigated by the House ethics committee for improper conduct a half-dozen times, surrounded himself for years with a whole lot of criminals.
Pure as the driven snow? I don’t think so.