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A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jordan Libowitz,,jlibowitz@citizensforethics.org,.

DeLay Must Answer for His Crimes

In response to the Justice Department's decision not to prosecute
disgraced former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), Citizens for
Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) Executive Director
Melanie Sloan released the following statement:

WASHINGTON

In response to the Justice Department's decision not to prosecute
disgraced former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), Citizens for
Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) Executive Director
Melanie Sloan released the following statement:

"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. The fact that Jack Abramoff and Bob Ney (R-OH) are the
only two people who went to prison for one of the worst corruption
scandals in congressional history is shocking. The Hammer belongs in
the slammer. Mr. DeLay still has crimes to answer for in Texas -
generally not considered the best place to be a criminal defendant."

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting ethics and accountability in government and public life by targeting government officials -- regardless of party affiliation -- who sacrifice the common good to special interests. CREW advances its mission using a combination of research, litigation and media outreach.