Tom DeLay Could Get Off Easy

During this quiet holiday week, the guilty verdict for former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on charges of money laundering and conspiracy made quite a bit of noise—but could the former Republican leader get off easy? His charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison, but a Houston lawyer consulted says that sentence is realistically “impossible.” In fact, the judge in charge of sentencing has plenty of leeway in the decision, and could even grant DeLay probation instead of jail time.