By By Brendan O’Reilly

Tom Delay should be extradited from the Republican Party and thrown in jail. The time has come for the Republicans to stop pretending like Tom “The Hammer” Delay has done nothing wrong.

Delay conspired to launder illegal corporate donations through the RNC to Texas legislature candidates. His plan fulfilled the agenda of his political action committee, Texans for a Republican Majority. Once elected, the new Republican state legislature participated in gerrymandering. The newly drawn lines resulted in five more Republicans representing Texas in the House, securing a Republican stranglehold.

Delay’s career is spattered with ethical violations, and he has apologized for none of them. His recent indictment comes after being charged and admonished by the House Ethics Committee on three separate issues in 2004. He also had a questionable political relationship with lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Abramoff paid for some of Delay’s overseas travel expenses, but Delay claims he was not aware of it.

Delay was charged with conspiracy to funnel corporate donations to Texas legislature candidates. This conspiracy indictment by a grand jury is different than past allegations because it is a criminal charge. He is the highest-ranking member of Congress in history to face criminal indictment.

Ronnie Earle, the district attorney of Travis County in Texas, brought the charge. Delay described him as a “rogue” with a “vendetta.” He accused Earle of “partisan politics.” Delay’s strong words almost hide that only three of the 15 elected officials prosecuted by Earle’s office were Republicans. He is hardly an “unabashed partisan zealot” or “fanatic” as Delay has said.

The “liberal media” spent more time questioning Earle’s character than Delay’s. Mainstream journalists are not fulfilling their duties. They should be investigating the validity of the charges rather than echoing Delay’s claims. Once the media confirms the charges are legitimate, they should start calling for the conviction and imprisonment of Delay. He has undermined the democratic process and should suffer the consequences. Delay accused Earle of accepting corporate and union donations illegally. If the accusations are true, they make Earle a hypocrite. They do not make Delay innocent.

He has no business holding one of the most powerful positions in US government. The ethics rules had been revised to protect Delay, but were changed back in January. The party caught on; changing rules to keep in power individuals under investigation for wrongdoing does not look good in the public eye.

Delay’s legal team requested the first indictment be set aside. If Delay is certain the charges against him are bogus, then he should face them. He should not try to have the case dismissed. The charges combined could result in a lifelong prison term. Even if the jury hands down a guilty verdict, it is doubtful he will serve any time. The best the public can expect is his exile from Capitol Hill. His presence in the House makes all of Congress look bad, especially the Republicans. They should have as much reason as the Democrats to remove his influence.