As the Saying Goes....

Justice Delayed is justice denied.

"The Justice Department has ended its six-year criminal probe of the ties between former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and disgraced ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff without filing any criminal charges against the former congressman," the Associated Press reports.

[...]

In response, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) Executive Director Melanie Sloan released the following statement, which was sent to RAW STORY.

It’s a sad day for America when one of the most corrupt members to ever walk the halls of Congress gets a free pass.

As we continue the work of building a Washington that is worthy of the American people, the Justice Department’s decision not to prosecute Mr. DeLay for his actions sends exactly the wrong message to current and future members.

  Raw Story

It's the only message it knows: "We all cover each other's ass."

And it could be argued that the American people have exactly the Washington we're worth.

At TPM Muckraker, Ryan J. Reilly notes, "A separate state probe in Texas into an alleged scheme to funnel corporate money in the 2002 campaign remains open, Cullen said. DeLay and two other men are allegedly raised $190,000 in corporate money in Texas through a fundraising committee and sent it the Republican National Committee, which then gave the money to candidates in Texas, a state which bans corporate donations."

I don't know why they even bothered with that one. This is Texas. SOP. But yes, it was a surprise to me to find out Texas bans corporate donations. Maybe we'll soon find out exactly where the loopholes lie.

And have you ever seen a happier mug shot than the one Delay had when he was hauled in? Ever the smarmy politician. Or maybe he was just laughing at the thought that his ass was covered.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.

And a little side note on the whereabouts of his partner in slime:

Abramoff reported to prison in November 2006 on a litany of corruption convictions and was recently released to a halfway house in Maryland to serve the remaining months of his sentence. He is also working in a pizza parlor.

  The Hill