Tom DeLay, a leading Right-wing Christian, a Republican, the majority leader in the US House of Representatives, and a close friend (croney) of President Bush hismelf, has been sent to prison by a jury for corruption and a \"criminal conspiracy\" in which he illegally diverted money into Republican campaign funds. This incident exposes a typical example of how politicians do business, and demonstrates the ethics of the class of the arrogant, wealthy men who now control America. Thank goodness they are not yet entirely untouchable. The Republican majority leader in the US House of Representatives Tom DeLay has been indicted with criminal conspiracy by a grand jury in Texas. The charge relates to a campaign finance scheme in which two of Mr DeLay\'s associates also stand accused. Mr DeLay, the second-highest ranking member of the house, said he would step down temporarily to answer the charges. He is a key fundraiser for President George W Bush and is seen as yielding immense political influence. White House Spokesman Scott McClellan said that Mr Bush still considered Tom DeLay \"a good ally, a leader who we have worked closely with to get things done for the American people\". His indictment could make life difficult for the president, says the BBC\'s Oliver Conway in Washington. Mr DeLay has been hugely influential in driving the Republican agenda in Congress, our correspondent says. He has been under investigation for possible illegal fundraising and use of corporate funds by a political action group he chairs. John Colyandro, former executive director of a Texas political action committee founded by Mr DeLay, and Jim Ellis, who heads his national political committee, were indicted alongside the top Congressman. \"The defendants entered into an agreement with each other or with TRMPAC [Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee] to make a political contribution in violation of the Texas election code,\" says the four-page indictment. \"The contribution was made directly to the Republican National Committee within 60 days of a general election.\" Mr DeLay\'s spokesman dismissed the charge as politically motivated. \"This indictment is nothing more than prosecutorial retribution by a partisan Democrat,\" said Kevin Madden, referring to prosecutor Ronnie Earle, a Democrat. \"We regret the people of Texas will once again have their taxpayer dollars wasted on Ronnie Earle\'s pursuit of headlines and political paybacks.\" Three of Mr DeLay\'s former aides had already been charged with illegal fundraising. A Congressional ethics committee has reprimanded him three times for what it calls objectionable behaviour. In the past, Mr DeLay has called the allegations against him \"fiction and innuendo\" and a result of a political witch-hunt.