DeLay associates played prominent role
National advisers stayed on top of Texas effortBy Laylan Copelin, Austin American-Statesman
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Although U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay always has downplayed his role in Texans for a Republican Majority, his associates played a prominent role from Washington D.C.
The political action committee's fund-raiser, Warren Robold, also was raising corporate money for DeLay's national political action committee, Americans for a Republican Majority, and DeLay's charities. He shared offices with Jim Ellis, an official with both PACs, at a Washington D.C. lobbying firm headed by former DeLay staffers.
Looking for likely contributors to the Texas cause, Robold also turned to other former DeLay aides who were lobbying at other firms.
In an e-mail Sept. 4, 2002, Robold asked Drew Maloney, a former DeLay staffer now at the Federalist Group, for help: "What companies that you know of would be interested in Tort Reform in Texas with asbestos problems that might support TRMPAC?"
Maloney suggested Dow Chemical Co., Owens-Illinois Inc. and Halliburton Co., among others.
"I finally have the 2 checks from Reliant (Energy)," he added. "Will deliver to TD next week probably."
TD is Tom DeLay.
On Sept. 18, 2002, John Colyandro, the executive director of Texans for a Republican Majority, urged Ellis and Robold to encourage San Antonio lawyer James Jonas to finish phoning would-be donors for an event in that city.
"Please tell him how important he is," Colyandro wrote, "and how important this is to TD."
A month later, Robold, still needing $125,000 in corporate money, urged Harlan Crow, son of Dallas real estate mogul Trammell Crow, to donate: "On behalf of Congressman DeLay and the rest of the Texans for a Republican Majority team, we thank you for all that you can do."
Robold also suggested to Colyandro that he create a top 10 list of donors:
"I would then decide from response who Tom DeLay (and) others should call."
