Tom DeLay: 'No Lessons Learned' From Abramoff Scandal

In an interview posted online today, former House Majority Leader Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) told ABC's Brian Ross that there was no lesson to be learned from the end of a Department of Justice investigation into his ties with lobbyists. He claimed that he did nothing wrong, and blamed "career bureaucrats" that have "political agenda and a personal agenda" for the investigation.

"I didn't break the law," he said. "The Department of Justice spent six years investigating, and they could find nothing because there's nothing there."

"In 1995, Patrick Kennedy and Nancy Pelosi announced that they were going to get me. I've gone through all kinds of frivolous ethics charges," DeLay added. "I've had an indictment on laws that didn't even exist in Texas."

The conservative known as "the Hammer" defended the lobbyist-paid-for trips as saving taxpayer money. "I would take trips paid for by private interests and nonprofit interests because I didn't believe taxpayers should be paying for it," adding that it was "the right thing to do."

DeLay provided a few testy exchanges with Ross, who had closely followed the Texas Rep.'s lobbying scandals. Initially, Ross asked if a line was crossed. DeLay said no. He added that he and disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff are not "too close."

"Many lobbyists are friends of mine," DeLay said. But when Ross later pressed on any lessons learned from the Abramoff case, which partially served as a rallying cry for Democrats during the 2006 elections, DeLay threatened to stop the interview.

DeLay said that despite being "nearly bankrupt," he wants to take up conservative causes. "I have no idea what the Lord has in store for me." Despite saying that politics is "hurting the nation" by "undermining the trust" in government, he pledged to "defeat Obama and Nancy Pelosi in any way" he could.

Republicans, he opined, should be more aggressive in repealing the "Obama agenda." He said that, should the GOP control the House of Representatives, one week per month should be reserved for a "repeal session" where members can repeal anything.

"The only regret that I have is this criminalization of politics," he said. "It's not bad enough now to just beat 'em in policy or let them ruin your reputation. They've got to bankrupt you, ruin your family, put you in jail, put you in the grave and then dance on your grave."

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Comments

[AdobePhsyko]

11:43 PM on 08/24/2010

This guy is a Slimeball........He has manipulated our election system, Isn't that Treason ?
25 years in Leavenworth

[bboyy]

12:47 PM on 08/23/2010

Tom Delay-- no lessons learned, Bush---no regrets. Conservatives are short on both brains and hearts.

[Levonsky]

12:19 PM on 08/23/2010

He reminds me of Joe Peasci in "Goodfellas".

[Donuthole]

12:58 PM on 08/23/2010

Another "funny guy..."

[krechsd]

04:49 AM on 08/23/2010

Why is ABC giving Delay a speaking platform and thus credibility? He's an irrelevant criminal. The press is supposed to be part of the solution, not confuse and add to the problem.

[gumbo1049]

08:11 AM on 08/23/2010

Well said. If delay was sent to JAIL maybe his lesson would be LEARNED.

[seatech1]

02:51 AM on 08/23/2010

Can I just say it? DeLay is a criminal who used every trick in the book to avoid being convicted. There was no finding of innocence. It was all about legal tricks and maneuvers. The man should be in jail for many years.

[sheaintsayin]

02:40 AM on 08/23/2010

"DeLay: A GOP-Controlled Congress (S)Would Dedicate 1 Week Per Month To Repealing Dem Legislation"

That there really is a pretty fine campaign statement for Democrats

[MyrtleJune]

11:28 PM on 08/22/2010

I think mr delay needs to call up "mary" again..... There Something About His hair that's missing. What is it? Hmmmmmm....... The gop hair goo has must be pretty pricey for him to be skipping it like that....

[kaptaintripps]

10:47 PM on 08/22/2010

DeLay: the snake-swallowing preacher. Ya can't fight stoooopid.

[TheCommons]

09:14 PM on 08/22/2010

No sympathy here for the old bug killer. The political game as played in Washington is an equal opportunity round robin cesspool. Delay wallowed in it as much or more as anyone.

[BillyClub]

08:03 PM on 08/22/2010

Tom DeLay is wrong as usual. Lesson are being learned as I write. Jack Abramoff, for example, has learned how to make a "mean" tov pizza down in Baltimore County, MD. He's finishing out his sentence by working at a restaurant during the day, while staying at a half-way house at night. See: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/24/us/24abramoff.html

[jqcitizen]

07:55 PM on 08/22/2010

Delay says that he IS nearly "bankrupt" (always has been). Says he has lots of lobbyist friends (no news there), His mentor, Jack Abramoff, got an 'early-out' and supposedly serves pizza. in Baltimore, rather than bribing members of congress at the 'Signatures' joint in DC.
Delay can boast about 'Dancing with the Stars' or playing golf, in Scotland, but is terrified to return to the scene of the crime, that he is most 'infamous' for. -TEXAS. More specifically, Sugarland, Texas.

[654321ee]

07:23 PM on 08/22/2010

what joke & fella who has a selfish political agenda and a personal agenda ... liar to the core !

[Jennifer]

06:45 PM on 08/22/2010

And the Dems should spend three weeks a month fixing the damage the Repubs did while he was in congress.

[NWGuy]

05:59 PM on 08/22/2010

Repealing the Obama agenda?! Let's see, he has been trying to rein in wall street (not so good there so far), set more protections for consumers, get a handle on health insurance practices (just a start so far), end the wars in middle east, addressing the mess in the gulf, assuring equal pay for women; nothing about wiretaps without warrants, starting more wars, or how to scr*w the middle class. Just what is the Obama agenda that is so distressing the right? Just what has been done that would warrant a week each month to repeal?

[MauricioC]

06:41 PM on 08/22/2010

His position in the White House distresses the right. To the wealthy on the right, it's his incremental policies to help the middle class. To the not so wealthy, it's his skin color.

[jsgaetano]

05:41 PM on 08/22/2010

DeLay is no longer in prison... so obviously no lessons were learned.

Tom should have been locked up in "Club Gitmo" and had some water sprinkled on his face until we learn exactly what he knows, and when he knew it.