Funny, DeLay never returns my calls either

U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay was downplaying the role he played with a group he created, Texans for a Republican Majority, even before last week's reprimands by House colleagues and last month's indictments of three associates.

"For some reason, particularly in the Texas media, it is like TRMPAC has a last name and it is called Tom DeLay," the Sugar Land Republican told The Wall Street Journal in June, referring to the group's political action committee.

Yet the committee's documents, now court records, boast of DeLay's involvement in the organization during the 2002 election and raise questions about his role with the committee and how much he knew about the activities of his three indicted associates, Jim Ellis, John Colyandro and Warren Robold.

A Travis County grand jury last month indicted Ellis and Colyandro on charges of laundering illegal corporate donations. Colyandro and Robold also were indicted on charges of accepting illegal contributions from corporations. The criminal investigation continues.

[snip]

Though DeLay has maintained that he did nothing but raise money and serve as chairman of the committee's advisory board, Republican state Rep. Dianne Delisi of Temple, a fellow board member, gave DeLay more credit for his efforts.

In a memo to Dallas businessman Boone Pickens making a pitch for support, Delisi wrote that DeLay "has been an ardent advocate for us by raising money, making phone calls, serving as a special guest at events and providing assistance with leading strategists."

DeLay and Delisi did not return phone calls requesting comment.

Read more on the PAC investigation in this mornings Austin American Statesman.