Former Rep. Tom DeLay said not much changed after a Texas appeals court overturned his conviction Thursday and acquitted him of charges he violated campaign finance laws — except that he will have a key constitutional right restored.
“I can get my concealed weapon license back,” he told reporters at the Capitol.
Mr. DeLay had been convicted by a Texas jury of laundering money through several political groups in order to help federal candidates win elections in Texas, but an appeals court said the money-shifting was legal and tossed the conviction and officially acquitted him of the charges.
The case left Mr. DeLay on the sidelines of politics for eight years, but he said it didn’t weigh on him.
“Because I’m walking with the Lord, I had no burden. He’s had the burden. He carried it,” Mr. DeLay said. He said he was at a prayer session when he learned of Thursday’s decision.
He said he doesn’t have plans to run for office again, and is working on a book about constitutional revival at the federal level.
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• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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