COLUMBIA--South Carolina's congressional delegation
rallied to support Republican Tom DeLay on Wednesday, as the state's Democratic
Party called on one member to return contributions from a recent fundraiser that
featured the embattled U.S. House majority leader.
DeLay was indicted in his home state of Texas on Wednesday for one criminal
count of conspiring with two political aides to violate the state's campaign
finance laws. From his office in Washington, DeLay dismissed the charges, saying
it was the product of a political witchhunt by the district attorney in Travis
County.
South Carolina's GOP delegation defended their leader.
"By issuing an indictment today against Mr. DeLay, Liberal Democrat Ronnie
Earle is demonstrating politics at its worst and is continuing his personal
vendetta against Republican leaders," said Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., naming the
district attorney in a prepared statement. "I am confident that Congressman
DeLay will also be vindicated from this blatant, partisan attack."
Wilson has stood by DeLay, which made him the target for an attack by the
South Carolina Democratic Party.
Lachlan McIntosh, executive director of the state Democratic Party, called on
Wilson to return contributions collected at an Aug. 19 fundraiser in Hilton Head
that featured DeLay.
"Joe Wilson should have never invited Tom DeLay and his cronies to South
Carolina in the first place," McIntosh said. "Joe Wilson needs to remove the
cloud over his reputation and give the dirty DeLay money back."
Wilson did not respond to the Democrat's demand. At the time of the event,
Wilson brushed off the notion that DeLay's presence would taint the golfing
fundraiser.
DeLay has given federal contributions to every Republican member of the
state's delegation except U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis from his national political
leadership committee. Those donations are not in question because they are
federal dollars and DeLay was indicted for violating Texas' campaign finance
laws.
While Wilson assailed the accusations, Rep. Henry Brown, a Charleston
Republican, was more cautious in his defense of DeLay.
"The presumption of innocence is a cornerstone of our justice system," Brown
said. "Congressman DeLay will have every opportunity to present his defense
against these charges in the proper venue."
