Slammer.

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who was known as "The Hammer" for his hardball tactics in getting legislation passed through his chamber, received a three-year jail sentence for conspiracy to commit money laundering in Texas, the Associated Pressand the Austin American-Statesman reported. DeLay's other sentence, a five-year term on a substantive money-laundering count, was converted by Texas Judge Pat Priest to probation.

The chargesdate back to the 2002 midterm elections, when DeLay, 63, had his state political action committee collect $190,000 in corporate donations and funnel it to the Republican National Committee, which in turn sent $190,000 to Republican state house candidates hand-picked by DeLay's PAC. Taking corporate money is illegal under Texas campaign finance law.

Prior to receiving the sentence, DeLay addressed the court, maintaining his innocence, according to the American-Statesman. "I fought the fight. I ran the race. I kept the faith," DeLay said.

Prosecutors had been looking for at least 10 years in prison, while DeLay's defense team had called for probation. During the sentencing hearing, DeLay had former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., testify as a character witness, saying he honorably served his Texas district for more than 20 years.