PETER ROSKAM'S MENTOR INDICTED

Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), for whom congressional candidate Pete Roskam worked as a Washington intern, has been charged with criminal conspiracy.

From the Washington Post:

A Texas grand jury on Wednesday charged Rep. Tom DeLay and two political associates with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme, an indictment that could force him to step down as House majority leader.

DeLay attorney Steve Brittain said DeLay was accused of a criminal conspiracy along with two associates, John Colyandro, former executive director of a Texas political action committee formed by DeLay, and Jim Ellis, who heads DeLay's national political committee. ***

As a sign of loyalty to DeLay after the grand jury returned indictments against three of his associates, House Republicans last November repealed a rule requiring any of their leaders to step aside if indicted. The rule was reinstituted in January after lawmakers returned to Washington from the holidays fearing the repeal might create a backlash from voters.

In April, your Chicago Sun-Times asked Pete Roskam if the growing cloud of corruption surrounding DeLay meant he should step down from his post as leader:

"Trotting out some of ... these old accusations that are two and three and four years old is a little bit tiresome," Roskam said. "I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt."

And Roskam's loyalty to, and ongoing relationship with, his mentor is still paying off.

Just last week, on September 22, Tom DeLay hosted a $500 per plate -- $1,000 for PAC donors -- fundraising lunch in Washington D.C. for Peter Roskam.