Texas grand jury indicts Tom DeLay

Ooh boy...


cnn.com reports:

A Texas grand jury today charged Rep. Tom DeLay and two political associates with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme, an indictment that could force him to step down as House majority leader. His attorney says DeLay was accused of a criminal conspiracy along with two associates, John Colyandro, former executive director of a Texas political action committee formed by DeLay, and Jim Ellis, who heads DeLay's national political committee.

Lets see where this goes...

Probably the same place it went when Ronnie Earl indicted Kay Bailey Hutchenson on spurious charges. Nowhere. This is a political hit by a partisan prosecuter.

quote:This is a political hit by a partisan prosecuter.

Agreed. And the ironic part is, if he did what is alleged in one of many other states, it would be perfectly legal. But TX doesn't allow coprporate money to be used this way.

i don't follow many political heads as i should, but isn't this man dubbed the most corrupt in government?

Originally posted by Realist05
Probably the same place it went when Ronnie Earl indicted Kay Bailey Hutchenson on spurious charges. Nowhere. This is a political hit by a partisan prosecuter.

If he's a partisan, he sucks at it considering how many prominent Democrats he's taken down.

While Earle is an elected Democrat, as Media Matters for America has previously noted, a June 17 editorial in the Houston Chronicle commended his work: "During his long tenure, Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle has prosecuted many more Democratic officials than Republicans. The record does not support allegations that Earle is prone to partisan witch hunts." This assertion supports Earle's own claim about his record; a March 6 article in the El Paso Times reported: "Earle says local prosecution is fundamental and points out that 11 of the 15 politicians he has prosecuted over the years were Democrats."

And we're not talking minor Democrats, either. His biggest targets:

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, 1994: Acquitted of official misconduct and records tampering after Earle dropped the case during the trial.

Former state Rep. Betty Denton, D-Waco, 1995: Sentenced to six months probation and fined $2,000 for listing false loans and contributions on campaign finance reports.

Former state Rep. Lane Denton, D-Waco, 1995: Sentenced to 60 days in work-release program and six years probation, fined $6,000 and ordered to pay more than $67,000 restitution after being convicted of theft and misapplication of fiduciary property for funneling money from the Department of Public Safety Officers Association to a Denton company.

House Speaker Gib Lewis, D-Fort Worth, 1992: In plea bargain, Earle dropped more serious charges when Lewis pleaded no contest to failing to disclose a business investment. Lewis was fined $2,000, and the judge said he took into consideration that Lewis was retiring from public office.

Attorney General Jim Mattox, Democrat, 1985: Acquitted on felony bribery charges. Won re-election.

State Rep. Mike Martin, R-Longview, 1982: Pleaded guilty to perjury after lying about having himself shot to gain publicity. Did not run for re-election.

State Treasurer Warren Harding, Democrat, 1982: Pleaded no contest to official misconduct and dropped re-election bid.

Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Yarbrough, Democrat, 1978: Sentenced to five years for lying to a grand jury and forgery. Gave up seat.

So his highest profile prosecutions include a Democratic state supreme court justice, a Democratic attorney general, a Democratic state treasurer, and a Democratic speaker of the Texas House.

I have another theory. DeLay is a crook. No, it's not complicated as conspiracy theories go, but it is plausible.

Even when I am happy with the turn of events, two most powerful and “self righteous conservative Republicans” are going down.

Frist for “insider’s trade” and DeLay for “Conspiracy Charges”

I am a littler bit skeptical to the results of all these, Why? Because the corruption of corporate power and politicians buy out spreads not only in the Republican Party but also in the Democrat party too.

Washington is full of them.

If he's guilty, he should go down. But apparently the charge against him is very very weak.

Actually because two of his "Friends" has been "Indicted" that is all the link that is needed to bring him down.

Now the "insiders" is needed to make the charges stand, I guess that is expected to have one of the "indicted" spilling the beans.

It that doesn't happen then he will got free, but it doesn't matter because the link has already been made, and his reputation is now in the public eye.

The Hammer will turn into a "Rubber one"

Originally posted by marg6043
Actually because two of his "Friends" has been "Indicted" that is all the link that is needed to bring him down.

Remember the movie Godfather II, where the mob guy is on trial and laughinghly replies to a question with "Buffers? Yeah. We had plenty of buffers."

Those two friends are his buffers.