A Texas grand jury on Wednesday charged Rep.Tom DeLay and two political associates with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme, forcing him to step down as House majority leader. Kansas Republican Congressmen Jim Ryun (Topeka, 2nd District) and Todd Tiahrt (Wichita, 4th District) have accepted tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from DeLayâ??s PAC.

In his campaign for Congress, Jim Ryun has taken over $37,000 from DeLayâ??s PAC, ranking him as one of criminally-charged Tom DeLayâ??s â??Top 5 Croniesâ? (Public Campaign Action Fund). Congressman Tiahrt has accepted over $10,000 from Delayâ??s PAC and is one of the biggest contributors to DeLayâ??s legal defense fund.

In fact, during ethical investigations prior to DeLayâ??s indictment, Tiahrt said the GOP Should Stand with DeLay. "We need to stand together and support Tom." (Roll Call, 4/7/05)

With House Republican Leader Tom DeLay under criminal indictment, Senate Republican Leader Frist facing SEC and Department of Justice investigations, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove under investigation, the Republican leadership in Washington is now spending more time answering questions about ethical misconduct than doing the peopleâ??s business.

Click on the following links to find out more about Republican Congressmen in Kansas and their ties to ethically-challenged Tom DeLay:

- Wichita Congressman Todd Tiahart
- Topeka Congressman Jim Ryun
- Hays Congressman Jerry Moran
- Public Campaign Action Fundâ??s DeLay Rankings
- Tom DeLay House of Scandal Web Site: http://houseofscandal.org/main.html