DeLay goes down

So yet another Republican has fallen under the wheels of their own bus. Tom DeLay was indicted today for 1 count of conspiracy along with two of his associates John Colyandro, former executive director of a Texas political action committee formed by DeLay, and Jim Ellis, who heads DeLay's national political committee. Now for those of you who dont know what this means, the charge was based on the idea that $2.5 Million in corporate funding may violate a 1905 law which prohibits corporate money from being used to advocate the election or defeat of candidates; it is allowed only for administrative expenses.

Three people were named in the indictments handed up by a Travis County grand jury Tuesday. A summary of the charges:

--Jim Ellis, who heads U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's Americans for a Republican Majority, is charged with money laundering, a first-degree felony. If convicted, he could face five to 99 years in prison or life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

--John Colyandro, who heads Texans for a Republican Majority, is charged with money laundering and 13 counts of accepting unlawful corporate campaign contributions, third-degree felonies punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

--Warren Robold, a Washington-area Republican consultant, is charged with nine counts of making illegal corporate contributions and nine counts of accepting illegal corporate contributions, both third-degree felonies.

Corporate indictments

Eight corporations are charged with making illegal campaign contributions, a third-degree felony, and face fines of up to $20,000.

--Questerra Corp., a Charlottesville, Va.-based subsidiary of Meadwestvaco Corp., is accused of making two separate $25,000 contributions.

--Westar Energy, a Topeka, Kan.-based electric utility, is accused of making a $25,000 contribution.

--Diversified Collection Services, a San Leandro, Calif.-based debt collector, is accused of making a $50,000 contribution.

--Sears Roebuck & Company, an Illinois-based retailer, is accused of making a $25,000 contribution.

--The Williams Companies, a Tulsa, Okla.-based natural-gas company, is accused of making a $25,000 contribution.

--Bacardi U.S.A., a Miami-based subsidiary of the Bahamas-based liquor producer, is accused of making a $20,000 contribution.

--Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, a Tennessee-based subsidiary of CBRL Group that operates restaurants and stores, is accused of making a $25,000 contribution.

--The Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care Corporation, an umbrella for some of the nation's largest nursing-home operators, is accused of making a $100,000 contribution.