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'''Tom DeLay''' (born 1947 as Thomas Dale DeLay ) is an American politician from Sugarland, Texas, near Houston. He served in the [[House of Representatives]] from 1984 to 2006, representing the 22nd district in Texas. A leading Republican, he was the [[House Majority Leader]] from 2003 to 2005, and was the  most aggressive and powerful member of Congress.  

'''Tom DeLay''' (born 1947 as Thomas Dale DeLay ) is an American politician from Sugarland, Texas, near Houston. He served in the [[House of Representatives]] from 1984 to 2006, representing the 22nd district in Texas. A leading Republican, he was the [[House Majority Leader]] from 2003 to 2005, and was the  most aggressive and powerful member of Congress.  

DeLay was forced (by Republican House rules) to resign his leadership position when criminal indictments were brought against him in Texas. The charges, which are still pending, relate to 2002 legal campaign donations that have been characterized as illegal after 2003 law was amended in Texas elections.  In 2005, most charges were dropped accept the unproven money laundering charge. DeLay was indicted by a Texas grand jury, he made a pro-forma surrender to the police, and one of the indictments against him (conspiracy) <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286942,00.html Court Rules Against Reinstituting Tom DeLay Conspiracy Charge], ''Associated Press'', June 27, 2007.</ref> has been dropped. It has been reported the charges were brought by a Ronnie Earle, the Travis County District Attorney who is a member of the [[Democratic Party]].<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/28/AR2005092800270.html</ref> This partisan prosecutor has succeeded in using the law to slow down the trial in the court system.

DeLay was forced (by Republican House rules) to resign his leadership position when criminal indictments were brought against him in Texas. The charges, which are still pending, relate to 2002 legal campaign donations that have been characterized as illegal after 2003 law was amended in Texas elections.  In 2005, most charges were dropped except the unproven money laundering charge. DeLay was indicted by a Texas grand jury, he made a pro-forma surrender to the police, and one of the indictments against him (conspiracy) <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286942,00.html Court Rules Against Reinstituting Tom DeLay Conspiracy Charge], ''Associated Press'', June 27, 2007.</ref> has been dropped. It has been reported the charges were brought by a Ronnie Earle, the Travis County District Attorney who is a member of the [[Democratic Party]].<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/28/AR2005092800270.html</ref> This partisan prosecutor has succeeded in using the law to slow down the trial in the court system.

Critics of DeLay have taken to calling him "AIPAC's man in Congress."<ref>[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Talk:Thomas_D._DeLay AIPAC's "man"], SourceWatch, Talk:Thomas D. DeLay, retrieved 06/13/07.</ref><ref>[http://timescorrespondents.typepad.com/baker/2006/04/justice_delayed.html#comment-15942285 Timesonline], retrieved 06/13/07.</ref><ref>[http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/10/tom_delay_im_st.php#comments001959 democrats.org], retrieved 06/13/07.</ref>  AIPAC is the American Israeli Poltical Action Committee, a lobbying group in support of Israel.  On January 1, 2003, Leader Tom DeLay was invited to address the [[Israeli]] [[Knesset]].  Leader Delay remarked,

Critics of DeLay have taken to calling him "AIPAC's man in Congress."<ref>[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Talk:Thomas_D._DeLay AIPAC's "man"], SourceWatch, Talk:Thomas D. DeLay, retrieved 06/13/07.</ref><ref>[http://timescorrespondents.typepad.com/baker/2006/04/justice_delayed.html#comment-15942285 Timesonline], retrieved 06/13/07.</ref><ref>[http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/10/tom_delay_im_st.php#comments001959 democrats.org], retrieved 06/13/07.</ref>  AIPAC is the American Israeli Poltical Action Committee, a lobbying group in support of Israel.  On January 1, 2003, Leader Tom DeLay was invited to address the [[Israeli]] [[Knesset]].  Leader Delay remarked,