Texans for a Republican Majority
Encyclopedia
Texans for a Republican Majority or TRMPAC is a general-purpose political action committee
registered with the Texas Ethics Commission
. It was founded in 2001 by former Republican Texas
U.S. Rep.
and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay
.
TRMPAC is an acronym for 'Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee'.
was selected by Jim Ellis
and Tom DeLay
(R-Texas) to be executive director. Colyandro selected Dallas
businessman Bill Cerveha as treasurer.
and Jim Ellis
has been stayed pending the outcome of criminal charges against them.
Ceverha was later criticized for refusing to reveal the amount of a gift received from GOP donor Bob Perry
despite holding a state post requiring a description of gifts under the state ethics laws. Ceverha claimed that the disclosure law was satisfied by describing the gift as 'check'.
for felony violations of state campaign finance laws such as applying corporate campaign contributions (which may be used only for administrative expenses) to political campaigns. In September 2002, TRMPAC donated $190,000 to the Republican National Committee
, which within days sent $190,000 raised from individuals to seven GOP House candidates.
James W. Ellis, the committee's director, has been indicted
for money laundering
in connection with this investigation. In addition, Americans for a Republican Majority
head Jim Ellis and John Colyandro
, former executive director of Texans for a Republican Majority, were both charged in September 2005 with violating Texas election law and criminal conspiracy to violate the election law.
Preston, Gates, Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds
, reportedly lobbied for at least one donor to Texans for a Republican Majority, and also contributed $25,000 to TRM itself. It has been reported that former DeLay aide Michael Scanlon
worked on the Preston Gates account for the firm making the donation, Burlington Northern.
Warren Robold, a national Republican fundraiser who solicited money for TRMPAC from several of the indicted corporations, faced nine third-degree felony charges of 'making and accepting' prohibited corporate contributions.
Under Texas law, corporate donations may be used in state campaigns for administrative costs such as clerical needs or rent, but not for any purpose that might be used to influence voters.
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
registered with the Texas Ethics Commission
Texas Ethics Commission
The Texas Ethics Commission was established in 1991 to "provide guidance on various public ethics laws" within the state of Texas. The agency is headquartered on the 10th Floor of the Sam Houston State Office Building at 201 East 14th Street in Downtown Austin....
. It was founded in 2001 by former Republican Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
U.S. Rep.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay
Tom DeLay
Thomas Dale "Tom" DeLay is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1984 until 2006. He was Republican Party House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2005, when he resigned because of criminal money laundering charges in...
.
TRMPAC is an acronym for 'Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee'.
History
TRMPAC was founded on September 5, 2001, with the goal of naming a Republican Speaker in Texas and promoting the Republican party's agenda within the state. John ColyandroJohn Colyandro
John Dominick Colyandro is the former executive director of the political action committee Texans for a Republican Majority. Colyandro has been indicted for money laundering and unlawful acceptance of corporate contributions....
was selected by Jim Ellis
Jim Ellis (politics)
James W. Ellis, is an American Republican political activist.He is the former executive director of Thomas D. DeLay's political action committee Americans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee , and is one of the two political associates who were with DeLay on September 28, 2005,...
and Tom DeLay
Tom DeLay
Thomas Dale "Tom" DeLay is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1984 until 2006. He was Republican Party House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2005, when he resigned because of criminal money laundering charges in...
(R-Texas) to be executive director. Colyandro selected Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
businessman Bill Cerveha as treasurer.
Lawsuit
A lawsuit brought against TRMPAC and Bill Ceverha as Treasurer brought by five Democratic candidates resulted in a court order to pay $196,600 in damages and attorney fees. Ceverha later stated that the case had cost him in excess of $850,000. Ceverha subsequently filed for bankruptcy. The case against the other two parties named in the suit, John ColyandroJohn Colyandro
John Dominick Colyandro is the former executive director of the political action committee Texans for a Republican Majority. Colyandro has been indicted for money laundering and unlawful acceptance of corporate contributions....
and Jim Ellis
Jim Ellis (politics)
James W. Ellis, is an American Republican political activist.He is the former executive director of Thomas D. DeLay's political action committee Americans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee , and is one of the two political associates who were with DeLay on September 28, 2005,...
has been stayed pending the outcome of criminal charges against them.
Ceverha was later criticized for refusing to reveal the amount of a gift received from GOP donor Bob Perry
Bob J. Perry
Bobby Jack Perry , is a Houston, Texas homebuilder, owner of Perry Homes, and major contributor to a number of 527 groups, such as the Swift Vets and POWs for Truth and the Economic Freedom Fund....
despite holding a state post requiring a description of gifts under the state ethics laws. Ceverha claimed that the disclosure law was satisfied by describing the gift as 'check'.
Indictments
Currently, several key members, lobbyists and officials associated with the organization are under indictment by a grand juryGrand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
for felony violations of state campaign finance laws such as applying corporate campaign contributions (which may be used only for administrative expenses) to political campaigns. In September 2002, TRMPAC donated $190,000 to the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
, which within days sent $190,000 raised from individuals to seven GOP House candidates.
James W. Ellis, the committee's director, has been indicted
Indictment
An indictment , in the common-law legal system, is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime. In jurisdictions that maintain the concept of felonies, the serious criminal offence is a felony; jurisdictions that lack the concept of felonies often use that of an indictable offence—an...
for money laundering
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
in connection with this investigation. In addition, Americans for a Republican Majority
Americans for a Republican Majority
Americans for a Republican Majority was a political action committee formed by former Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and directed by Karl Gallant. On July 7, 2006 ARMPAC reached an agreement with the Federal Election Commission to pay a fine of $115,000 for various violations and to...
head Jim Ellis and John Colyandro
John Colyandro
John Dominick Colyandro is the former executive director of the political action committee Texans for a Republican Majority. Colyandro has been indicted for money laundering and unlawful acceptance of corporate contributions....
, former executive director of Texans for a Republican Majority, were both charged in September 2005 with violating Texas election law and criminal conspiracy to violate the election law.
Preston, Gates, Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds
Preston Gates & Ellis
Preston Gates & Ellis, LLP, also known as Preston Gates, was a law firm with offices in the United States, China and Taiwan. Its main office was in the IDX Tower in Seattle, Washington...
, reportedly lobbied for at least one donor to Texans for a Republican Majority, and also contributed $25,000 to TRM itself. It has been reported that former DeLay aide Michael Scanlon
Michael Scanlon
Michael Scanlon, AKA "Sean Scanlon", is a former communications director for Rep. Tom DeLay, lobbyist, and public relations executive who has pleaded guilty to corruption charges related to the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal...
worked on the Preston Gates account for the firm making the donation, Burlington Northern.
Warren Robold, a national Republican fundraiser who solicited money for TRMPAC from several of the indicted corporations, faced nine third-degree felony charges of 'making and accepting' prohibited corporate contributions.
Under Texas law, corporate donations may be used in state campaigns for administrative costs such as clerical needs or rent, but not for any purpose that might be used to influence voters.
Films
- 2006 - The Big Buy: Tom DeLay's Stolen CongressThe Big Buy: Tom DeLay's Stolen CongressThe Big Buy: Tom DeLay's Stolen Congress is a 2006 documentary by Mark Birnbaum and Jim Schermbeck that follows the rise of Tom DeLay from a Texas businessman to the Majority Leader of the United States House of Representatives...
. Directed by Mark Birnbaum and Jim Schermbeck.
External references
- Moreno, S. & Smith, R.F. (2005). Treasurer of DeLay Group Broke Texas Election Law. Washington Post, May 27
- Smith, R.F. (2005). DeLay Indicted in Texas Finance Probe. Washington Post, September 29