Posted on 10/01/2014 10:46:12 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
HOUSTON (AP) — The highest criminal court in Texas refused Wednesday to reinstate two money-laundering convictions against former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, ending a nearly decade-long criminal case against the one-time GOP heavyweight.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals upheld a ruling last year from the 3rd Court of Appeals that tossed the Republican's 2010 convictions for money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Travis County prosecutors had argued in June before the Austin-based Court of Criminal Appeals that the convictions be reinstated in what they called a scheme to influence Texas state elections.
"We agree with the court of appeals' ultimate conclusion that, as a matter of law, what the state has proven in this case does not constitute either of the alleged criminal offenses," the high court said in its 8-1 ruling.
DeLay, 67, who had long contended the charges were politically motivated, said he was not angry about his prosecution, which ultimately cost him the No. 2 job in the U.S. House.
"I understand what it's about and it's about ... the criminalization of politics and the misuse of power ... and prosecutorial misconduct," DeLay said Wednesday from his attorney's office in Houston.
Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, whose Austin-based office prosecuted the case, said she strongly disagreed with the appeals court's decision.
"This opinion effectively repeals the Texas statute prohibiting corporate contributions and places a burden on the state that is impossible to overcome," Lehmberg said in a statement. "This decision undermines the fairness and integrity of our elections.".....
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
After eleven years, the matter of Mr. DeLay’s fund-raising in the 2002 election cycle has been finally put to rest, with Mr. Earle’s case having been vivisected by Justice Melissa Goodwin, who in her quietly scathing opinion did not bother even to consider six of the eight points raised by Mr. DeLay’s defense, finding the first two sufficient to snuff out what is in theory a prosecution but is in fact a persecution......"
Let’s hope he goes after Mr. Earle and makes him pay, personally. These bogus harassment lawsuits against conservatives have to stop.
Go Tom go! Dismantle the DemonRATs! Crush evil!
But where does he go to get his reputation/career back?
Scumbag Dems got what they wanted.... I am glad to see Tom Delay get vindicated at this late date. And how many milions did he have to spend on lawyers? Hopefully he got donations to take care of some of the expenses
It's probably the booze talking.
Isn’t Rosemary Lehmberg the DRUNKEN DRIVER???<P.Yes, he should sue the HELL out of Mr. Earle!!
Same tactics against Gov. Perry.
At this point, I’d rather have the Hammer’s reputation than Rosemary Lehmberg’s.
Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, whose Austin-based office prosecuted the case, said she strongly disagreed with the appeals court’s decision.
Rosemary Baby, your an abortion.
Now you got something to get drunk over, you loser.
Hope Rick and Tom go after this corrupt office and they end up being prosecuted under RICO. Conspiracy to lynch their GOP opponents who were successful like Tom and Rick are.
Using the court to kick enemies out of office.
Agreed, but save a curse for Ronnie Earl.
Too bad Haley Barbour isn’t in Texas, so Ronnie Earl could send him to jail.
Too bad Haley Barbour isn’t in Texas, so Ronnie Earl could send him to jail.
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Anyone know what Earle is doing now that he isn’t in the Travis County DA’s office?
He attempted a run at Lt. Gov. back in 2010 but was defeated in the democrat primary.
What is the downside for doing this? Seems they should pay all of the court costs for the past 10 years...personally, now out of their expense account.
Man, this’ll be all over the news for days. Yessir, days.
Personally, I think the penalty for a grossly negligent prosecution should carry treble damages, much like the penalty for gross negligence against a manufacturer. This just has to stop.
Remember this thread?
Ping
Missed it for some reason.... LOL a choking chicken thread with Earle involved.
Yup, Travesty county went from a queer DA to a fat lesbian DA. I wish our area would secede from this county and get annexed into Burnet county.
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