Will the hammer fall?
Once more, an ethics storm is swirling around Tom DeLay, but he's hanging tough
Warren Robold, fundraiser
CHARGED with making and accepting illegal contributions. DeLay's Washington-based moneyman, he worked alongside a top aide to the Texas congressman.
Jim Ellis, political operative
CHARGED with money laundering. A Texas prosecutor says fundraising efforts there are "an effort to use corporate contributions to control representative democracy in Texas."
Jack Abramoff, lobbyist
UNDER INVESTIGATION for influence peddling. The Justice Department and the Senate are trying to determine whether lobbying work that he and partner Michael Scanlon did on behalf of Indian tribes with casino gambling interests violated federal laws and illegally benefited DeLay's political operations. Abramoff is also under scrutiny for having raised money for a lavish trip DeLay, DeLay's wife, and others took to England and Scotland in 2000, in violation of House rules.
Ralph Reed, political heavyweight
NOT CHARGED. The former head of the Christian Coalition, Reed received at least $4 million from gambling interests represented by Abramoff and Scanlon hoping to thwart competition.
John Colyandro, political operative
CHARGED with money laundering. The former head of Texans for a Republican Majority, he is accused of diverting donations to the RNC to Texas state candidates.
With Edward T. Pound
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