Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
Posted on 09/28/2005 10:52:59 AM PDT by kellynla
It is my understanding that Grand Juries are presented only with the evidence that would support indictment or that the evidence leans disproportianately in that direction. Also isn't it the judge who decides what evidence shall be presented? Someone correct me if I am wrong. But isn't the grand jury's proceedings not subject to the same rules of discovery that an actual trial would be?
I would be very cautious in concluding that this indictment is any proof of wrong doing.
Having served in a Texas DA's office for over ten years, I will let you in on a little secret. The DA can get anyone indicted he wants. He is the presenter of the facts, and makes recommendations to the grand jury.
Think so? Wait until the Dims really start throwing out the rumors about Dreier being gay, and everyone here and in the MSM who is braying in triumph over DeLay's indictment starts hounding Dreier and calling him a "queer".
The DA is Ronnie Earl a Democrat political hack. He went after Kay Bailey-Hutchinson a few years back. the process played out over about 10 months, cost millions of dollars and the jury came back with not guilty in about 20 minutes.
This is a pure political ploy to neutralize Delay for the mid-term elections. Ronnie Earl couldn't get a conviction if his life depended on it. Interestingly his job never does.
Since you have some inside info, what kind of prosecution record do they have down there?
So basically he's their Larry Klayman.
Or should I say what is their rate of conviction?
These charges have no basis in the facts or the law. This is just another example of Ronnie Earle misusing his office for partisan vendettas. Despite the clearly political agenda of this prosecutor, Congressman DeLay has cooperated with officials throughout the entire process. Even in the last two weeks, Ronnie Earle himself had acknowledged publicly that Mr. DeLay was not a target of his investigation. However, as with many of Ronnie Earle's previous partisan investigations, Ronnie Earle refused to let the facts or the law get in the way of his partisan desire to indict a political foe.
This purely political investigation has been marked by illegal grand jury leaks, a fundraising speech by Ronnie Earle for Texas Democrats that inappropriately focused on the investigation, misuse of his office for partisan purposes, and extortion of money for Earle's pet projects from corporations in exchange for dismissing indictments he brought against them. Ronnie Earle's previous misuse of his office has resulted in failed prosecutions and we trust his partisan grandstanding will strike out again, as it should.
Ronnie Earle's 1994 indictment against Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison was quickly dismissed and his charges in the 1980s against former Attorney General Jim Mattox-another political foe of Earle-fell apart at trial.
We regret the people of Texas will once again have their taxpayer dollars wasted on Ronnie Earle's pursuit of headlines and political paybacks. Ronnie Earle began this investigation in 2002, after the Democrat Party lost the Texas state legislature to Republicans. For three years and through numerous grand juries, Ronnie Earle has tried to manufacture charges against Republicans involved in winning those elections using arcane statutes never before utilized in a case in the state. This indictment is nothing more than prosecutorial retribution by a partisan Democrat.
They can look at any fact, or non fact without reguard to how it was gained.
A member of the DA's office is present to guide and present facts.
The Grand Jury can ask the member of the DA's office to leave, and then they are refered to as a runaway Grand Jury.
"...Wait until the Dims really start throwing out the rumors about Dreier being gay..."
Democrats and liberals love gay men. Just ask Barnie Frank.
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
I live in Travis County and think Ronnie Earle is a Sleezball, so I will withhold opinions on the caqse.
Didja mean legal process?
Thanks for the information and the context.
Well, it shouldn't be too hard to find out their rate of conviction down there. Unless that's a secret.
"Guilt" by association?
They are not know for their great court cases.
Thanks for the information. So it seems the workings of the Grand Jury may and can be politically motivated.
Especially with a member of the DA guiding the Grand Jury.
I think I have read arguments that the Grand Jury system is outdated and should be reformed. But I just can not recall where I saw this.
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