Subject: DeLay's Fingerprints

Dear Common Cause Activist,

Last week a Texas judge ruled that House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's (R-TX) political action committee, Texans for a Republican Majority, also known as TRMPAC, was guilty of failing to report corporate campaign contributions.  The strong decision by State District Judge Joe Hart -- a Republican-appointee -- makes it crystal clear that TRMPAC broke the law by illegally using corporate money in state legislative races.  Evidence presented at that civil trial also makes clear that DeLay was the leader of TRMPAC. He created, advised, led, and raised the money that was illegally spent. So it defies credibility when DeLay claims that he had no part in TRMPAC's dealings, even though his fingerprints were all over it.

The TRMPAC decision and DeLay's astonishing attempt to pretend he had nothing to do with the PAC's illegal activities are yet more examples of his complete disregard and disrespect for the rule of law. They are also more reason that the House Ethics Committee must appoint an independent, outside counsel to review allegations of abuse of power and ethical misconduct that DeLay faces here in Washington. So immediately after the TRMPAC ruling came out, we sent a letter to House Ethics Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA) and Ranking Member Alan Mollahan (D-WV), urging them to appoint an outside counsel to investigate DeLay. Common Cause joined with three other national watchdog groups in sending that letter (which you can read by clicking here).

While we are lobbying Congress to appoint an outside counsel to investigate DeLay, we also need to keep up our grassroots pressure from outside the Beltway on the House Ethics Committee. The two leaders of the Ethics Committee and your congressional Representatives need to hear from us today.

Please call the chairman and the ranking member of the Ethics Committee today and ask them to appoint a credible outside counsel, with experience and stature in the legal community, to thoroughly investigate DeLay. Their phone numbers are:

Doc Hastings (R-WA)
Chairman, House Ethics Committee
202-225-5816

Allan Mollohan (D-WV)
Ranking Member, House Ethics Committee
202-225-4172

DeLay's financial ties to many House Republicans, as well as his reputation for doling out political favors, makes it impossible for his House colleagues to sit in judgment of him. So call these leaders today and urge them to appoint an outside counsel who will operate without any conflict of interest, and who will be able to conduct a publicly credible investigation of Tom DeLay. An independent, outside counsel will make sure that DeLay cannot erase his fingerprints from any alleged ethical wrongdoing inside the Beltway.

And if you have not done so already, please sign our petition calling on DeLay to step down as House Majority Leader. It is an embarrassment to the American people that Tom DeLay has not stepped down, considering he is ethically unfit to serve as the leader of the people's house:

http://www.commoncause.org/StepDownDeLay

We appreciate your dedication to holding public officials accountable to the highest ethical standards. Your actions do make a difference. Thank you again for your passion and commitment to Common Cause.

Sincerely,

Chellie Pingree President & CEO,
Common Cause