Former House majority leader Tom DeLay, who helped build and tightly control a Republican majority in his chamber was sentenced by a state judge Monday to three years in prison.
The charges: Illegally plotting to funnel corporate contributions to Texas legislative candidates.
DeLay's passionate argument that he was the victim of political persecution and was selectively targeted for doing what "everybody was doing", was rejected by State Senior Judge Pat Priest on the ground that “those who write the laws to "be bound by them.”
Priest said he agreed with a jury's verdict in November that DeLay had committed a felony by conspiring to launder corporate money into the state election, and ordered bailiffs to take DeLay - wearing a navy blue suit and his trademark American-flag lapel pin - to jail immediately. DeLay was released, pending an appeal, when his attorneys quickly posted a $10,000 bond.
DeLay is also sentenced to five years in prison on a separate felony conviction of money laundering, but Priest agreed to let him serve 10 years of community service instead of jail time for that charge. Priest acknowledged that DeLay - who said he had already raised and spent $10 million on his defense - would appeal the verdict to higher courts.
Priest delivered this sentence immediately after hearing from prosecutors and the defense Monday.
"I can't be remorseful for something I don't think I did," said DeLay, who had been silent in front of the jury even while he insisted on his innocence during numerous news conferences outside the courtroom.
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