Probing Christine DeLay

I've been hearing a LOT of rumors about Christine DeLay and illegal activities. Part 2 of all the rumors is one of these scenarios:

1. DeLay made a deal with investigators to resign from Congress in exchange for them not going after Christine
2 Christine would squeal in return for immunity
3. DeLay would let Christine take the fall, somehow
4. DeLay would plead guilty in return for charges being dropped against Christine

Do these people KNOW Tom DeLay like we do in TX-22? Cut and run Tom is not going to go rescue his wife. Far from it. He's already scampered off to Virginia while Christine stays behind as a permanent resident of the house in Sugar Land.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Justice Department is investigating Christine DeLay to determine if she took $3200/month salary for three years from a lobbying firm for work she did not do. They are questioning former employees of the firm as well as people who work in the same building to find out how often she showed up at the office, how long she was there and what type of work she did. The lobbying firm, Alexander Strategy, was run by two former DeLay aides, Tony Rudy (pled guilty to bribery charges earlier this year) and Edwin Buckham (under indictment). The investigors also asked about the $144,000 Christine received from ARMPAC which was housed in Alexander Strategy's offices.

DeLay's lawyer said Christine was a real, live employee making giant, long lists of lawmakers' favorite charities, month after long month, year after year.

Here's what the feds did to nail Rudy, who pled guilty to accepting bribes when he worked for DeLay and later conspiring to bribe other lawmakers when he was a lobbyist:

As part of the plea deal, Mr. Rudy told prosecutors that he sabotaged an Internet-gambling bill on Capitol Hill in exchange for $50,000 in payments to his wife. In return for his cooperation, federal prosecutors agreed to give Mr. Rudy a lighter sentence and not to prosecute his wife.

Actually, I can see DeLay going for this. But, only if they give him a lighter sentence. I still say there's no way he's making an even exchange for saving Christine's butt while he goes to the slammer until his face lift falls.

On a related note, did you see where DeLay is using his congressional email list to affect the results of reality TV shows? The former "most powerful man in Congress" is begging for Dancing With the Stars votes.