Republicans Anonymous

The Texas Republican Party just settled a case involving the same type of charges Tom DeLay faces:

In signing the pact, the party promised not to keep spending corporate funds for these purposes. In exchange, it avoided prosecution for election law violations, unlike DeLay, whose lawyers contend that state law allows such uses of corporate funds or is unconstitutionally vague.
(Source: Washington Post Texas Republicans Agree to Limit Use of Corporate Funds, Nov. 18, 2005.

Why would the Texas Republican Party sign a pact to stop spending corporate money if they agreed with Tom DeLay's position? And if they don't agree with Tom DeLay, maybe a jury won't, either.

Meanwhile, former DeLay Congressional Aide Michael Scanlan has entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Scanlon, 35, once a senior aide to former House majority leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), was charged with conspiring with Abramoff -- identified as "Lobbyist A" in the court papers -- in a scheme in which the lobbyist would direct tribes to hire Scanlon's public relations company without telling them that Scanlon had agreed to kick back 50 percent of the profits to Abramoff.

The charge was detailed in a court document known as a "criminal information" -- a process that often precedes a plea-bargain arrangement with a cooperating witness. Officials familiar with the investigation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Scanlon has agreed to plead guilty and cooperate in the ongoing bribery and public corruption investigation of Abramoff, members of Congress and executive branch officials.
(Source: Washington Post Scanlon Charged With Conspiracy to Bribe Officials, Cheat Indian Tribes, Nov. 18, 2005,)

Pity they're not after Tom DeLay:

The government officials were not named in the court papers filed by U.S. prosecutors in the District, but details of the gifts and legislative favors provided by an official identified as "Representative #1" match the alleged actions of Rep. Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Administration Committee.

On the other hand, Tom DeLay got a trip to Scotland from Abramoff, too, so maybe there'll be more indictments soon.