A federal judge has sentenced a former aide to one-time congressional power broker Tom DeLay to five months in a halfway house in the final act of the probe of the Jack Abramoff influence peddling scandal.
Tony Rudy, an ex-deputy chief of staff to DeLay, pleaded guilty six years ago to conspiring with Abramoff and others to accept a stream of gifts when Rudy was a congressional staffer and to offering gifts to public officials when Rudy became a lobbyist — all in exchange for legislative favors. His cooperation with prosecutors has led to 18 convictions.
U.S. District Judge Ellen Huvelle said Rudy deserved some time in confinement for "very serious offenses," rejecting a plea from Rudy's lawyer to avoid time away from his family.
© Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.