Delay Indicted

[rollhead]

DeLay Indicted in Texas Campaign Finance Probe
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 12:38 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Texas grand jury on Wednesday 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.

DeLay attorney Steve Brittain said 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.

[Brian Olewnick]

Good.

[Root Doctor]

I'm surprised. He's such a paragon of decency.

[rollhead]

"I have notified the speaker that I will temporarily step aside from my position as majority leader pursuant to rules of the House Republican Conference and the actions of the Travis County district attorney today," DeLay said.

[Gentle Giant]

That's one.


DeLay indicted in campaign finance probe
By Larry Margasak, Associated Press Writer | September 28, 2005

WASHINGTON --A Texas grand jury on Wednesday charged Rep. Tom DeLay and two political associates with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme, forcing the House majority leader to temporarily relinquish his post.

DeLay attorney Steve Brittain said 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.

"I have notified the speaker that I will temporarily step aside from my position as majority leader pursuant to rules of the House Republican Conference and the actions of the Travis County district attorney today," DeLay said.

GOP congressional officials said Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., will recommend that Rep. David Dreier of California step into those duties. Some of the duties may go to the GOP whip, Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri. The Republican rank and file may meet as early as Wednesday night to act on Hastert's recommendation.

The charge carries a potential two-year sentence, which forces DeLay to step down under House Republican rules.

"The defendants entered into an agreement with each other or with TRMPAC (Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee) to make a political contribution in violation of the Texas election code," says the four-page indictment. "The contribution was made directly to the Republican National Committee within 60 days of a general election."

The indictment against the second-ranking, and most assertive Republican leader came on the final day of the grand jury's term. It followed earlier indictments of a state political action committee founded by DeLay and three of his political associates.

The grand jury action is expected to have immediate consequences in the House, where DeLay is largely responsible for winning passage of the Republican legislative program. House Republican Party rules require leaders who are indicted to temporarily step aside from their leadership posts.

However, DeLay retains his seat representing Texas' 22nd congressional district, suburbs southwest of Houston.

DeLay has denied committing any crime and accused the Democratic district attorney leading the investigation, Ronnie Earle, of pursuing the case for political motives.

Democrats have kept up a crescendo of criticism of DeLay's ethics, citing three times last year that the House ethics committee admonished DeLay for his conduct.

Earlier, DeLay attorney Bill White told reporters, "It's a skunky indictment if they have one."

As a sign of loyalty to DeLay after the grand jury returned indictments against three of his associates, House Republicans last November repealed a rule requiring any of their leaders to step aside if indicted. The rule was reinstituted in January after lawmakers returned to Washington from the holidays fearing the repeal might create a backlash from voters.

DeLay, 58, also is the center of an ethics swirl in Washington. The 11-term congressman was admonished last year by the House ethics committee on three separate issues and is the center of a political storm this year over lobbyists paying his and other lawmakers' tabs for expensive travel abroad.

Wednesday's indictment stems from a plan DeLay helped set in motion in 2001 to help Republicans win control of the Texas House in the 2002 elections for the first time since Reconstruction.

A state political action committee he created, Texans for a Republican Majority, was indicted earlier this month on charges of accepting corporate contributions for use in state legislative races. Texas law prohibits corporate money from being used to advocate the election or defeat of candidates; it is allowed only for administrative expenses.

With GOP control of the Texas legislature, DeLay then engineered a redistricting plan that enabled the GOP take six Texas seats in the U.S. House away from Democrats -- including one lawmaker switching parties -- in 2004 and build its majority in Congress.
© Copyright

[clinthopson]

Is Frist next?

Them squeaky clean Republicans are a model for all of us.

[Monte Smith]

Looks like Delay is out of the leadership until he can clear his name.*

Hastert has nominated David Dreier (Rep-CA) to serve as interim majority leader.
































*Or have everyone on that Texas grand jury deported.

[Chris D]

Originally Posted by Monte Smith

Looks like Delay is out of the leadership until he can clear his name.*


*Or have everyone on that Texas grand jury deported.

Heard he was quite upset the Malathion shipment didin't arrive in time to gas the grand jury room.

[Slurpy]

Sweet Jesus, that's beautiful.

[kedoane]

This is cool.

[groover]

Originally Posted by Chris D

Heard he was quite upset the Malathion shipment didin't arrive in time to gas the grand jury room.

I'll bet he's fumin' that he didn't get to fumigate 'em.

[bluenoter]

Originally Posted by Slurpy

Sweet Jesus, that's beautiful.

jesus marion joseph

[Doc Martin]

[Gordon B]

Originally Posted by Monte Smith

Looks like Delay is out of the leadership until he can clear his name.*

Hastert has nominated David Dreier (Rep-CA) to serve as interim majority leader.

Hastert nominated Dreier rather than the Roy Blunt, the Whip, who is theoretically next in line because he expects Delay to return. If Blunt gets the nod, he might not give it up if Delay is able to clear his name. I hope Hastert loses on this one and Blunt gets the job. I don't know a thing about Blunt, other that he's not Delay.

[Monte Smith]

Originally Posted by Gordon B

I hope Hastert loses on this one and Blunt gets the job. I don't know a thing about Blunt, other that he's not Delay.

Neither is Dreier, if I understand things correctly.

[Monte Smith]

I think we were talking about Bukka White on another thread? Well, this one is for Tom Delay.





District Attorney Blues

District Attorney sho' is hard on a man
He will take a woman's man and leave her cold in hand
District Attorney sho' is hard on a man
He will take a woman's man and leave her cold in hand

The District Attorney sho' is hard on a man
He has caused a many mens to be in some distant land
District Attorney sho' is hard on a man
He has caused so many women to be cold in hand

The District Attorney sho' is hard on a man
Ain't no woman but he sho' will take a woman's man
District Attorney sho' is hard on a man
He will take a woman's man and leave her cold in hand

The District Attorney sho' is hard on a man
He can tell just where when he gonna take a woman's man
District Attorney sho' is hard on a man
He will take a woman's man and leave her cold in hand

The District Attorney sho' is hard on a man
He taken me from my woman, cause her to love some other man
District Attorney sho' is hard on a man
He will take a woman's man and leave her cold in hand

[rollhead]

Drop the Hammer
http://www.dropthehammer.org/corruption/

[groover]

Originally Posted by rollhead

Drop the Hammer

There's a better song for the Hammer than D.A. Blues: Harder they come, harder they fall!

[rollhead]

Judge Harsh Blues by Furry Lewis

Good morning judge, what may be my fine?
Good morning judge, what may be my fine?
Fifty dollars, eleven twenty-nine
They 'rest me for murder, I ain't harmed a man
'Rest me for murder, I ain't harmed a man
Women hollerin' murderer, Lord I ain't raised my hand
I ain't got nobody to get me out on bond
I ain't got nobody to get me out on bond
I would not mind but I ain't done nothing wrong
Please Judge Harsh, make it light 's you pos'bly can
Please Judge Harsh, make it light 's you pos'bly can
I ain't did no work judge since I don't know when
My woman come runnin' with a hundred dollars in her hand
Woman come runnin' with a hundred dollars in her hand
Cryin' Judge, judge, please spare my man
Woman, hundred won't do, better run and get you three
Woman, hundred won't do, better run and get you three
That'll keep your man from penitentiary
Baby cause I'm arrested, please don't grieve and moan
Cause I'm arrested baby, don't grieve and moan
Penitentiary seem just like my home
People all talking 'bout what they will do
Judge all talking 'bout what they will do
If they had justice he'd be in penitentiary too

[lynn]

"money laundering" the activity of choice for the criminal set

[rollhead]

Originally Posted by lynn

"money laundering" the activity of choice for the criminal set

Good morning judge, what may be my fine?
Good morning judge, what may be my fine?
Fifty dollars, eleven twenty-nine
They 'rest me for laundrin', I ain't washed a dime
'Rest me for laundrin', I ain't washed a dime

[Gordon B]

Originally Posted by Monte Smith

Neither is Dreier, if I understand things correctly.

Yeah but Dreier probably has a quid pro quo to step aside for Delay if Delay is cleared.

[Monte Smith]

Looks like things have changed and Blount is in, Gordon. He says that he'll step aside if Delay is cleared. As is probable, I think.

[Gordon B]

Originally Posted by Monte Smith

Looks like things have changed and Blount is in, Gordon. He says that he'll step aside if Delay is cleared. As is probable, I think.

Either way, it's only fair that Blount should get it now. What do you know about him?

[Dr Dave]

Originally Posted by Monte Smith

Looks like things have changed and Blount is in, Gordon. He says that he'll step aside if Delay is cleared. As is probable, I think.

Right on, Monte. Stand by your man.

[Monte Smith]

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

Right on, Monte. Stand by your man.

Some times it's haaaard to be a Republican.

[crawjo]

Next step will be to force Rumsfeld's resignation. Then go after the president.

[Monte Smith]

Originally Posted by crawjo

Next step will be to force Rumsfeld's resignation. Then go after the president.

You forgot Rove. And Frist. And Barney the dog. But I think these are separate tasks. You don't have to wait to hammer The Hammer before you pick off the rest of the administration-evil, greasy malevolence by evil, greasy malevolence. Damn the unelected bastards!

At the same time, if Delay gets convicted on this it will be the first conviction on campaign finance-related charges that I can remember. At least at this level. I remember for instance--and not to equate the two instances--that Gore successfully plead "no controlling legal authority" on his infractions at the Buddhist monastery.

What I understand the indictment of Delay to say is this: that he conspired to insert money from Texas corporations (soft money) into Texas legislative races. This, presumably (but let's not assume), is illegal under Texas law in 2002. Who knows?! So what they have Delay doing is associating himself with folks who passed soft money up to the national Republican structure and received in turn hard money down from the national level which they could use in the local races. That isn't "money laundering," it isn't even a particularly shady political shell game (I thought it was orthodox practice). Is that corruption? My bet is Delay walks, and I'll take wagers on it. But it will be squeezed to the last pip for political purposes and could hurt Delay.

Correct me if I am wrong about the nature of the indictment, particularly the attorneys on the board. I haven't seen it myself and am only going by what I heard on Hardball, NPR, etc.

Originally Posted by Gordon B

Either way, it's only fair that Blount should get it now. What do you know about him?

meet your new leader:

http://www.beyonddelay.org/beyond_de...roy_blunt_r_mo

[rollhead]

Great link, Achilles. Looks like we replaced one snake with another -- but this reptile looks like he has a unctuous smile to go along with the patented DeLay beady eyes.

For those of you who won't click on the link -- here are a couple of highlights


Legislative Assistance for Jack Abramoff’s Client

Rep. Blunt and his staff have close connections to uber-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who is the subject of criminal and congressional probes. In June 2003, Mr. Abramoff persuaded Majority Leader Tom DeLay to organize a letter, co-signed by Speaker Hastert, Whip Roy Blunt, and Deputy Whip Eric Cantor, that endorsed a view of gambling law benefitting Mr. Abramoff’s client, the Louisiana Coushatta, by blocking gambling competition by another tribe. Mr. Abramoff has donated $8,500 to Rep. Blunt’s leadership PAC, Rely on Your Beliefs.

If, as it appears, Rep. Blunt was accepting campaign contributions from Mr. Abramoff in exchange for using his official position so support a view of gambling law that would benefit Mr. Abramoff’s client, he would be in violation of the law.

Trip to Korea

Rep. Blunt attended a luncheon in Seoul in January 2002, that was paid for by the Korea-U.S. Exchange Council (KORUSEC), a registered foreign agent. House Rules provide that a Member, officer or employee may not accept travel expenses from a foreign agent. The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct should investigate whether Rep. Blunt violated this prohibition by accepting reimbursement for travel from KORUSEC.