DeLay aide's payroll records subpoenaed

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- A federal grand jury in Washington Thursday subpoenaed payroll records of the former chief of staff to former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas.

Ed Buckham, who became a lobbyist after leaving DeLay’s staff, was close to Jack Abramoff, the disgraced lobbyist now serving a prison term, Politico.com reported. He has said he did nothing wrong while on DeLay’s staff.

Tony Rudy, a former DeLay staffer and a former Buckham business associate, has pleaded guilty to taking bribes from Abramoff clients while he was working for DeLay, in exchange for helping Abramoff and his clients with legislative affairs. He has also admitted violating a rule barring legislative staffers from becoming lobbyists within one year of leaving their congressional jobs.

The subpoena, which was read into the Congressional Record, suggests that Buckham is a Justice Department target.