Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has been sentenced to serve three years in prison "for his role in a scheme to illegally funnel corporate money to Texas candidates in 2002." the Associated Press writes.
As Morning Edition previously reported, DeLay's crimes "stemmed from a money swap from his political action committee to candidates for the Texas legislature in 2002 -- $190,000 in corporate donations was sent to the Republican National Committee. The same amount was then transferred from the RNC to seven Texas candidates. Prosecutors called it an end-run around the state ban on corporate campaign donations."
Update at 3:50 p.m. ET. The Houston Chroniclesays:
"DeLay was taken into custody by Travis County deputies, but will be released on $10,000 bail pending appeal.
"DeLay pleaded for himself before visiting District Judge Pat Priest. 'I don't feel remorseful for something I don't think I did,' DeLay told the judge."
Update at 3:45 p.m. More from the AP:
"The sentence comes after a jury in November convicted DeLay on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. DeLay was once one of the most powerful men in U.S. politics, ascending to the No. 2 job in the House of Representatives.
"Senior Judge Pat Priest sentenced him to the three-year term on the conspiracy charge. He also sentenced him to five years in prison on the money laundering charge but allowed DeLay to accept 10 years of probation instead of more prison time."
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