DeLay Indicted Again, Charges Graver
Gandalf Grey
tory?coll=la-home-headlines
DeLay Is Indicted Again; Charges Are Graver
The former House majority leader faces money-laundering counts. Once more,
he excoriates the Texas prosecutor.
By Scott Gold
Times Staff Writer
October 4, 2005
HOUSTON - Six days after Rep. Tom DeLay's indictment on conspiracy charges,
a new Texas grand jury issued another indictment Monday charging him with
the far more serious crime of money-laundering - a first-degree felony that
could bring a lengthy prison term.
Under the internal rules of the Republican Party, the conspiracy indictment
had forced the Texas congressman to step down from his position as House
majority leader. That charge, a fourth-degree felony punishable by a state
prison term of two years, came after a wide-ranging probe into allegations
that DeLay and his lieutenants had hijacked Texas elections by illegally
funneling corporate money into the bank accounts of Republican state
candidates.
DeLay has been defiant ever since, saying the charge was the result of a
political vendetta and vowing that he would soon be vindicated and reassume
his position as a premier power-broker on Capitol Hill.
But Monday, a second grand jury issued an indictment charging DeLay with
conspiracy to commit money-laundering, a second-degree felony, and
money-laundering, a first-degree felony.
Combined, the charges could bring a life prison term. Although such stiff
punishment is virtually unheard of in cases of political wrongdoing, "this
is serious stuff," said University of Texas law professor George E. Dix.
"They have obviously upped the ante."
There was considerable disagreement over the meaning and the import of the
latest indictment.
The new grand jury was only impaneled at noon on Monday, which means Texas
prosecutors were able to persuade its members to issue the more serious
charges in a matter of hours.
Craig McDonald, director of the Austin-based Texans for Public Justice - a
group that tries to fight the influence of money in politics - said the
speed of the indictment could be evidence that the case is "pretty cut and
dry."
"The crime is simple," he said. "Perhaps the evidence is simple too."
But DeLay called the charges another example of "prosecutorial abuse" on the
part of Travis County Dist. Atty. Ronald Earle, who is leading the
investigation.
"He is trying to pull the legal equivalent of a 'do-over,' since he knows
very well that the charges he brought against me last week are totally
manufactured and illegitimate," DeLay said. "This is an abomination of
justice."
Earle, a Democrat, did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Dick DeGuerin, DeLay's lawyer, pointed out Monday night that the new charges
came shortly after he filed court papers in Austin insisting that the first
indictment was so flawed that it should be thrown out. In that motion,
DeGuerin argued that the original conspiracy charge was based on a law that
didn't exist in 2002, when the alleged financial wrongdoing took place.
"He rushed in front of a new grand jury," DeGuerin said. "I think Ronnie
Earle and his crew spent some sleepless nights in the past few days.. It's
like a bunch of Keystone Kops running around up there."
Dix pointed out that although the indictments overlap in several areas,
there are critical differences.
Both focus on a single financial transaction - a $190,000 check that was
written to the Republican National Committee in Washington by Austin-based
Texans for a Republican Majority, which DeLay founded in 2001. The money,
collected from corporations nationwide, was distributed to seven legislative
candidates in Texas, although GOP attorneys say the money came from a
different account.
The first indictment appears to focus on the effort by DeLay's political
action committee to collect the corporate donations and funnel them to the
RNC.
The new one focuses on the back end of that transaction, when the RNC
distributed money to the legislative candidates. It appears to place the
alleged offenses within a three-year statute of limitations by saying that
they occurred between Sept. 6, 2002, and Oct. 4, 2004.
"My judgment is that simply because a prosecutor decides that one approach
is more effective than another doesn't necessarily suggest some major
weakness . or anything other than a continuing effort to adjust the case to
what appears to be the most favorable theory," Dix said.
All sides agree that more than $600,000 donated by corporations was used in
the 2002 elections, although there is disagreement about whether that was
legal.
Texas law bans the use of corporate contributions for direct campaigning,
but it allows candidates to use such money for administrative costs. That
traditionally has been interpreted as overhead costs, such as electric bills
at a campaign office. DeLay's fundraisers were far more aggressive, using
the money to pay for such items as phone banks.
The money from the RNC helped fuel a political takeover in which the
Republican Party, long the minority in Texas, gained control over the
governor's mansion and both houses of the Legislature for the first time in
130 years.
At DeLay's urging, Republican leaders seized upon their new clout to redraw
congressional maps that were friendly to their allies.
The move was so controversial that Democrats, under cover of darkness, fled
the Texas capital in protest - causing Republicans to send the Texas Rangers
after them.
In the 2004 elections, the new congressional districts gave the GOP a
six-seat majority in the state's congressional delegation. The gains helped
cement the GOP's control of Congress.
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Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107
"A little patience and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their
spells dissolve, and the people recovering their true sight, restore their
government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are
suffering deeply in spirit,
and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public
debt. But if the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have
patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning
back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at
stake."
--Thomas Jefferson
Dean Dimeneche
Newly impaneled grand jury returned money-laundering charge within hours
By Laylan Copelin
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
A Travis County grand jury last week refused to indict former U.S. House
Majority Leader Tom DeLay as prosecutors raced to salvage their felony case
against the Sugar Land Republican.
In a written statement Tuesday, Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle
acknowledged that prosecutors presented their case to three grand juries -
not just the two they had discussed - and one grand jury refused to indict
DeLay. When questions arose about whether the state's conspiracy statute
applied to the first indictment returned last Wednesday, prosecutors
presented a new money-laundering charge to second grand jury on Friday
because the term of the initial grand jury had expired.
Working on its last day Friday, the second grand jury refused to indict
DeLay. Normally, a "no-bill" document is available at the courthouse after
such a decision. No such document was released Tuesday.
Earle's statement on Tuesday said he took money-laundering and conspiracy
charges to a third grand jury on Monday after prosecutors learned of new
evidence over the weekend.
Lawyers for DeLay immediately called foul after Earle released his statement
after 5 p.m. Tuesday.
"What could have happened over the weekend?" said Austin lawyer Bill White,
who represents DeLay. "They investigate for three years and suddenly they
have new evidence? That's beyond the pale!"
White suggested that Earle released his statement Tuesday because he feared
reporters would learn about the no-bill.
In his statement, Earle said he would have no further comment because grand
jury proceedings are secret.
DeLay's legal team, led by Houston lawyer Dick DeGuerin, has been taking to
the airwaves to portray Earle as an incompetent prosecutor who is pursuing
DeLay only as a political vendetta.
"It just gets worse and worse," DeGuerin said. "He's gone to three grand
juries over four days. Where does it stop?"
The first grand jury, impaneled by state District Judge Mike Lynch, a
Democrat, had spent six months hearing evidence that Republican groups had
violated a state ban against spending corporate money in the 2002 campaigns,
including the exchange of $190,000 of corporate money for the same amount of
campaign donations from the Republican National Committee.
The grand jury indicted DeLay on charges of conspiring to violate the state
election laws, a state-jail felony. As DeLay's lawyers waited to raise an
issue whether the conspiracy law applied to the election code, prosecutors
apparently learned of the issue.
According to Earle's Tuesday statement, prosecutors presented "some
evidence" to a second grand jury impaneled by District Judge Julie Kocurek,
a Republican, "out of an abundance of caution."
It's unclear whether those grand jurors refused to indict DeLay on
money-laundering charges, a first-degree felony, because of the evidence or
because it was given to them on the last day of their 90-day term.
Earle did not say in his statement what new evidence surfaced over the
weekend. White, who said he doubts the evidence exists, challenged Earle to
reveal it. Prosecutors also called Lynch's grand jurors over the weekend to
poll them on how they would have voted on money-laundering charges if they
had been given the chance.
Then prosecutors tried again Monday with a new grand jury.
When Monday's grand jury, impaneled by District Judge Brenda Kennedy, a
Democrat, reported for its first day, Earle was there to ask them to indict
the second most powerful Texan in Washington.
About four hours later, the new felony indictments were returned.
DeGuerin said he assumes Earle persuaded the third grand jury to act by
telling them about the telephone poll of the grand jurors who had spent six
months on the case.
"That's outrageous," DeGuerin said. "That's criminal."
Tom Quarlous
<Dean...@aol.com> wrote:
>Prosecutor reveals third grand jury had refused DeLay indictment
>Newly impaneled grand jury returned money-laundering charge within hours
>
>
>By Laylan Copelin
>
>AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
>
>Tuesday, October 04, 2005
>
>A Travis County grand jury last week refused to indict former U.S. House
>Majority Leader Tom DeLay as prosecutors raced to salvage their felony case
>against the Sugar Land Republican.
>
>In a written statement Tuesday, Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle
>acknowledged that prosecutors presented their case to three grand juries -
>not just the two they had discussed - and one grand jury refused to indict
>DeLay. When questions arose about whether the state's conspiracy statute
>applied to the first indictment returned last Wednesday, prosecutors
>presented a new money-laundering charge to second grand jury on Friday
>because the term of the initial grand jury had expired.
heh heh heh, just watch.
Northern Storm
The horseshit you make up for subject lines is absolutely hilarious,
goosestepper!
Keep up the good work!
bernard spilman
"Dean Dimeneche" <Dean...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:43441afc$1...@alt.athenanews.com...
You just don't get it, do you? The job is done. Delay is gone.
He is no longer majority leader and he'll never be leader again,
and he'll never be speaker either. And it is NOT because the
Democrats or Ronnie Earle want it that way, though I'm sure
they do. It is because the republicans in Congress want it that
way. Delay is a bully, and most republican house members are
pale little wimps, so they don't want to be pushed around by
the thug Delay anymore. He'll never have the votes again and
even he knows it. Why the fuck do you think they re-enstated
the "resign-if-indicted" rule, integrity? Ha! They were all too
afraid of him to support an open challenge to him, but this is
perfect. Nobody wants any of his dirty money anymore
either, though there are enough of them that have already
taken it to make for some pretty damning campaign ads next
fall. The fun's gonna really start when Delay decides he's been
fucked, and starts talking. Enjoy the show, I know I will.
WS
Dean Dimeneche
"bernard spilman" <bspilma...@nc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:ilW0f.91166$SL.22...@twister.southeast.rr.com...
I guess your crack induced hallucinations are making you mad..
DeLay vows to continue leadership role in GOP
Indicted former House leader says he doesn't need title to push agenda
WASHINGTON - A defiant Tom DeLay, removed as House majority leader because
of a criminal indictment, said Sunday he can do his job even without the
title and pledged to continue his close partnership with House Speaker
Dennis Hastert in pushing the GOP's agenda.
The Texas Republican known for keeping colleagues in line and raising
prodigious amounts of cash to help elect GOP candidates said he is only
guilty of working to defeat Democrats. "But that's not illegal," he said.
Yet some House Republicans said the fundraising conspiracy case in Texas has
plunged DeLay back into the GOP pack.
Northern Storm
You need a quick civics lesson.
The Majority Leaders job is not bestowed on whomever "vows" to have it
or keep it. DeLay can "vow" he's going to be the winner pitcher in the
seventh game of the World Series if he wants, but he still won't be.
Sorry, goosestepper, DeLay simply can't bully his way back into the
power he's already lost. His own party members don't want him back,
let alone the democrats. The white house isn't shedding any tears over
his departure either.
Perhaps, at this point, DeLay could borrow a phrase from the drunken
bush and announce "I'm a Uniter! Not a Divider!" as he's certainly
united both republicans and democrats against him.
DeLay's "vow" is as hollow as a young girl vowing to be a virgin
immediately after being fucked.
Once it's gone, it's gone.
Go back to attacking Clinton or something; this one's history.
George
"bernard spilman" <bspilma...@nc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:ilW0f.91166$SL.22...@twister.southeast.rr.com...
>
DeLay will have his day in court, silly boy.
So contain your enthusiasm.
> He is no longer majority leader and he'll never be leader again,
You wish!
Maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong. But if the charges are tossed (as
might happen given the history behind them and the Kay Bailey Hutchison
indictment that failed) quickly enough, then DeLay will be back and I
predict there will be no mercy shown to Democrats, especially to Raahm
Emannuel.
And the gnashing and wailings of your Democraps will be sweet music to our
conservative ears.
> and he'll never be speaker either.
I'm not sure his goal was to be Speaker, but I could be wrong.
>And it is NOT because the
> Democrats or Ronnie Earle want it that way,
OF COURSE it is!
Why do you want to lie about it?
>though I'm sure
> they do. It is because the republicans in Congress want it that
> way.
You're a REPUBLICAN NOW? HAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh, my, I'm laughing so hard that I
can't hardly type...
@#$%^&*()__)(*&^%$E#WERTYUI
Oh, I'm glad that laughing fit is over!
Fool! You don't know JACK about Republicans.
The HOUSE REPUBLICANS voted DeLay into the job. They wanted him. They'll
do it again if DeLay gets cleared.
>Delay is a bully, and most republican house members are
> pale little wimps, so they don't want to be pushed around by
> the thug Delay anymore.
GUFFAW!
Like you know SHIT about Republicans, fool!
I can tell you, that you ARE NOT channeling Evertt Dirksen, that's for sure!
>He'll never have the votes again and
> even he knows it.
You a mind reader now? Or just another libby-dem BLOWHARD expressing your
deepest fear: "What if DeLay comes back!"
>Why the fuck do you think they re-enstated
> the "resign-if-indicted" rule, integrity? Ha!
As I recall, that was DeLay's or Hastert's doing, not the rank and file.
>They were all too
> afraid of him to support an open challenge to him, but this is
> perfect.
You're a tad "premature," methinks.
But you libby-dems often ejaculate prematurely. There was "Plamegate,"
"Downing street memos," "Gannon/Guckert" AWOL-gate, and on and on and on.
Each instance, you shriek, "THIS IS THE END OF BUSH!" And each time Bush
wins out and you look like hysterical, sissy, fools!
"Hissygate!" The permanent state of the Democratic Party. HAHAHAHAHA!
>Nobody wants any of his dirty money anymore
Guffaw!
A CONGRESSMAN not wanting money? HAHAHAHAHA!
YOU are so deluded. Especially when the DEMOCRATS have collected even more
"dirty lobbyiest" money that the Republicans -- especially Nancy Pelosi!
The only difference is WHICH pocket the bribes to congressmen go in. For
Republicans, the right suit pocket is used. For the Democrats, the left.
> either, though there are enough of them that have already
> taken it to make for some pretty damning campaign ads next
> fall.
Yep.
The REPUBLICANS are going to have a whole bunch of them.
I like this one?
"Hi, I am Joe Grunt, a former Lance Corporal in the Unites States Marine
Corps. While I was fighting Iraqi and foreign fighter terrorists in the
deserts of Iraq last year, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin and his fellow
Democrats called me a Nazi and a Gulag Death Camp guard and someone who
emulates the murdering Pol Pot.
You cannot believe how much this hurt me that elected members of the United
States Congress would call me and my fellow Marines a Nazi. And I was
angered that Senator Durbin's fellow Democrats did not denounce him for
slandering me.
I will never vote for a Democrat again and, if you support us Iraq war
veteans and our brothers and sisters still in the military, neither should
you. I'm voting Republican for Senate in November."
If the Republicans run this advertisement nationwide, every Democrat is
*FUCKED*!
>The fun's gonna really start when Delay decides he's been
> fucked, and starts talking. Enjoy the show, I know I will.
> WS
I bet you like to watch bullfights, too. You like to root for the bull --
which loses every time!
George
"Northern Storm" <spam...@nospamless.com> wrote in message
news:u8l8k1l39k5gsopo1...@4ax.com...
Keep whistling as you walk past the graveyard. "Der's no ghosts in dat der
cemetary!"
Dean Dimeneche
HOuse leader is only a title . DeLay can continue doing what he did behind
the scenes that no one ever saw before anyway .
Just like you rmom can continue whoring on the streets at night when your
dad , i mean uncle was not home.
Northern Storm
<Dean...@aol.com> wrote:
And you can put on that pretty dress and pretend you're the Queen of
England, which is only a title.
liber...@yahoo.com
Amazing how reichswingers think being the fourth generation born
through incest
is a moral advance.
robin hood
kind of victory...
Well I agree. It is.
MikeC
>
> HOuse leader is only a title . DeLay can continue doing what he did
> behind
> the scenes that no one ever saw before anyway .
Corruption is like that.