Austin, TX: On March 31, 2003, Texans for Public Justice (TPJ) filed a formal complaint with the Travis County District Attorney requesting an investigation into what appeared to be unlawful uses of corporate funds by Congressman Tom DeLay’s Texans for Republican Majority PAC (TRMPAC) to influence Texas’ 2002 legislative elections. Today a Travis County Grand Jury charged DeLay with criminally conspiring with TRMPAC.

“No jury can undo the outcome of Texas’ 2002 elections,” said Texans for Public Justice Director Craig McDonald, “but the justice system must punish those who criminally conspire to undermine democracy--no matter how powerful they may be. If we are to be a ‘democracy,’ then powerful politicians cannot flout such laws with impunity.”

“We applaud the District Attorney’s office for unraveling what appears to be a complex conspiracy to hijack Texas elections. These criminal prosecutions send the message that nobody is above Texas law.”

“As criminal indictments pile up, we believe that Washington and Austin both are in need of a good House cleaning to restore integrity. Because of his own close involvement with TRMPAC, Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick should resign his leadership post. If he will not, we call on House members to install a speaker untainted by the TRMPAC scandal.”