A Texas grand jury on Tuesday indicted a coalition of some of the nation’s largest nursing home companies for making illegal contributions to a political action committee formed by U.S. House Majority leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), the New York Times reports.
The Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care Corp. is accused of giving Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick a $100,000 donation for Texans for a Republican Majority in Oct. 2002, according to the Houston Chronicle. Craddick says he did nothing wrong in accepting the check for TRMPAC. The grand jury indicted the alliance on a third-degree felony count for making an illegal corporate donation in a Texas political campaign.
The grand jury also indicted the executive director of TRMPAC on a felony charge for accepting an illegal contribution from the alliance. John Calyandro turned himself in for fingerprinting and investigation on Wednesday and was released on a personal recognizance bond.
Craddick said he was not involved in spending the money and had no idea what TRMPAC would do with the check, according to the report. Mariner CEO Chris Winkle and alliance member gave Craddick the check during meetings in Houston before Craddick became Speaker of the House, according to reports.
Authorities are continuing their investigation of the incidents, the Houston Chronicle said.
