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DeLay Indicted, Steps Down(Could get up to two years if convicted.)
Austin American Statesman ^ | September 28, 2005 | Laylan Copelin

Posted on 09/28/2005 10:52:59 AM PDT by kellynla

A Travis County grand jury today indicted U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on one count of criminal conspiracy, prompting the Sugar Land Republican to give up his leadership post in Congress.

"I have notified (House Speaker Dennis Hastert) 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 in a statement.

The charge, a state jail felony punishable by up to two years incarceration, stems from his role with his political committee, Texans for a Republican Majority, a now-defunct organization that already had been indicted on charges of illegally using corporate money during the 2002 legislative elections.

The grand jury, however, took no action against Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick, Texas Association of Business President Bill Hammond or state Reps. Dianne Delisi and Beverly Woolley, both of whom sit on the political committee's board, for their roles in the election.

The grand jury's term ended today.

Delay's defense team will hold a news conference in Austin later this afternoon. The team includes defense attorneys Bill White and Steve Brittain of Austin and Dick DeGuerin of Houston.

"It's a skunky indictment. It stinks to high heaven," White said.

DeLay and his associates insisted the corporate money was legally spent on committee overhead or issue advertising and not campaign-related activity.

An indictment does not force DeLay to resign as a member of Congress, but the GOP's rules demand that he resign his post as majority leader as he fights the charges. Congressional Republicans earlier tried to drop that requirement, citing Earle's investigation as a political vendetta, but they ultimately maintained the rule after withering criticism.

(Excerpt) Read more at statesman.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: delay; ronnieearle
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To: Black Tooth

To be honest, all that ever makes the news is low time plea bargains. Anyone can have a high convictuiin rate if the give cases away.


61 posted on 09/28/2005 11:33:20 AM PDT by Jarhead1957 (Semper Fi)
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To: La Enchiladita
In the 3 network days, Delay would be a goner. But now at least he has a fighting chance.

Raymond Donovan had the misfortune of being indicted during the Reagan administration, back when you were at the mercy of the very few talking heads who reached the sheeple at dinner time.

He asked the famous question: Where do I go to get my reputaion back?

If Tom Delay is innocent, he has an army of friends who can fight for him and at least have a chance to be heard.

62 posted on 09/28/2005 11:37:37 AM PDT by lawnguy (It works Napoleon, you don't even know.)
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To: lastchance
I have been involved in Grand Jury investigations where the facts would never have come to light except for the power of the Grand Jury to subpoena. It is a tool of the justice system, and like all others can be abused.

I know the defense attorneys, and it is not going to be a slam dunk for Ronnie.

63 posted on 09/28/2005 11:39:18 AM PDT by Jarhead1957 (Semper Fi)
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To: SaintThomasMorePrayForUs
Hence, simply because it is on the books does not mean that it should be obeyed.

It's a tough call. In a nation such as ours where unjust laws can be opposed and overturned through ordinary political action, disobedience requires more than simply a personal determination that a law is unjust. It must be egregiously unjust, so harmful that the damage to the rule of law caused by disobedience is less. Further I would argue that the disobedience be effective.

64 posted on 09/28/2005 11:48:57 AM PDT by edsheppa
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To: La Enchiladita

I heard it reported that this was the sixth grand jury investigation on DeLay in the last 2 years.


65 posted on 09/28/2005 11:55:00 AM PDT by marvlus
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To: kellynla

"The team includes defense attorneys Bill White and Steve Brittain of Austin and Dick DeGuerin of Houston. "

Let me tell you something. These guys are better than the O.J. "Dream Team". Ronnie Earl has almost zero chance of winning this.


66 posted on 09/28/2005 11:55:07 AM PDT by KingKongCobra
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To: ozzymandus

"DeLay will be totally cleared, but the MSM will barely mention that part."

Preston Tucker was totally cleared; meanwhile his car, his company and his heart failed, victims of yet other wicked men.


67 posted on 09/28/2005 11:57:54 AM PDT by RoadTest (Peace! Peace! where there is no peace. Beat your plowshares into swords.)
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To: lawnguy; marvlus

Thanks and thanks! FR is my school!


68 posted on 09/28/2005 11:58:19 AM PDT by La Enchiladita (U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!)
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To: Jarhead1957

You have very valuable knowledge and I appreciate your insight. Are you by chance an attorney or counselor at law?


69 posted on 09/28/2005 12:01:41 PM PDT by lastchance (Hug your babies.)
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To: KingKongCobra
I would be surprised if it even goes to trial. It is a "very weak" indictment, and shows little or no actions on Tom DeLay's part. Conspiracy? My A**!! Gonna' be impossible to prove.
70 posted on 09/28/2005 12:01:53 PM PDT by geezerwheezer (get up boys, we're burnin' daylight!!!)
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To: kellynla

"An indictment does not force DeLay to resign as a member of Congress, but the GOP's rules demand that he resign his post as majority leader as he fights the charges. Congressional Republicans earlier tried to drop that requirement, citing Earle's investigation as a political vendetta, but they ultimately maintained the rule after withering criticism."

All part of the plan to get DeLay on phony charges. The Democraps can't get him legally, so they use abuse of presecutorial power to sideline him--but only for now. The last day of the grandjury the Dem just couldn't let it go without some trumped up charge. The Dems must be totally destroyed.


71 posted on 09/28/2005 12:06:11 PM PDT by Cautor
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To: KingKongCobra

You hit the nail on the head, if I were in trouble, guilty or not, I would call Dick and his brother Mike. Percy Formann trained those young men right.

That and two well known Austin Attorneys makes that one tough team to go against.


72 posted on 09/28/2005 12:07:22 PM PDT by Jarhead1957 (Semper Fi)
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To: RetiredArmy

Most folks here know Earle and his tricks. He's a DA in the only blue-voting county in Texas, and he's had a vendetta out for Delay for YEARS. I suggest looking back a few posts in this thread for the link to the NRO article about how Earle trading favors for political donations--and laughed about it.


73 posted on 09/28/2005 12:09:36 PM PDT by Mamzelle
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To: Shermy
We'll see how it goes but personally I see this as poetic justice for Delay's recent statement that all the fat has been cut from the budget, etc. One of the most politically stupid and insulting statements I've seen in a while.

The stooge also supports the NRST.
That fraudulent "reform" proposal is all the evidence I need to convict him and make him share a jail cell with Jim Traficant.

74 posted on 09/28/2005 12:11:20 PM PDT by Willie Green (Go Pat Go!!!)
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To: KingKongCobra
re: Ronnie Earl has almost zero chance of winning this)))

Earle knows this--and the awfuly truth is...he won just by getting the indictment. He's not interested in a trial.

75 posted on 09/28/2005 12:11:31 PM PDT by Mamzelle
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To: kellynla

Wait till you see the new House Maj Leader...

Delay is being railroaded....


76 posted on 09/28/2005 12:12:46 PM PDT by joesnuffy
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To: edsheppa

Agreed


77 posted on 09/28/2005 12:13:21 PM PDT by SaintThomasMorePrayForUs
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To: lastchance

Check the about page. If you have any other questions I will answer.

I checked yours and there was not an entry.


78 posted on 09/28/2005 12:14:51 PM PDT by Jarhead1957 (Semper Fi)
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To: saganite

If you believe all politicians are all honest and guilty of nothing, then I have a bridge in Brooklyn I want to interest you in.


79 posted on 09/28/2005 12:17:59 PM PDT by RetiredArmy (All democrats are ENEMIES of the Republic!)
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To: AngieGOP

Republicans can be so stupid. Why make Drier the leader? Why not some anoymonous likeable tax cutting Republican Congressman without a spot on his record? Its like we continually want bad publicity.


80 posted on 09/28/2005 12:19:51 PM PDT by Democratshavenobrains
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