A state district judge in Travis County ruled May 26 that Texans for a Republican Majority violated state law by failing to disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars in corporate contributions during its quest to make Tom Craddick speaker of the House.
District Judge Joe Hart awarded five Democratic candidates who lost in the election $196,660 in civil damages.
The Democrats had sued former state Rep. Bill Ceverha, treasurer for TRMPAC. Ceverha's side said they would appeal.
A separate grand jury investigation is under way to determine if any criminal laws were violated.
Texans for Public Justice Director Craig McDonald issued this statement:
"Today's ruling is bad news for Tom DeLay and his TRMPAC cronies. This ruling draws blood from the financial heart of DeLay's corrupt political empire. This is likely to be but the first of many guilty verdicts against TRMPAC and its leaders."
"Today's judgment confirms that TRMPAC blatantly violated Texas election law. It's the first step in holding TRMPAC's leaders accountable for the corruption they levied on Texas' politics."
"This ruling will hasten the end of DeLay's white-collar crimes against democracy. It sends a strong message to all the Tom DeLays who act as if they are above the law: Don't mess with Texas elections."
--Ed Sills, Texas AFL-CIO