Strike one

Posted on | May 26, 2005 | Comments Off

Not really, but we’re moving beyond allegations and into actual judicial decisions.

What am I talking about? This, from today’s Congressional Quarterly Midday Update:

A Texas judge today ruled in a civil lawsuit that a political action committee founded by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, violated the state election code by not reporting nearly $100,000 in campaign expenditures during the 2002 statehouse races. Texas State District Judge Joseph H. Hart concluded that Texans for a Republican Majority, or TRMPAC, failed to report $613,000 in contributions and $685,000 in expenditures to state election authorities, as is required by law. But Hart found TRMPAC treasurer Bill Ceverha liable for not reporting only $98,330 — the money spent on races against the five Democratic candidates who are the plaintiffs in the case. Hart ruled Ceverha must pay double damages — $196,660 to be divided among the plaintiffs — and attorneys’ fees. “We feel strongly this decision is wrong,” said Terry L. Scarborough, Ceverha’s lawyer, who plans to appeal.