"Dollars for Dismissals" - Byron York - June 20, 2005Ronnie Earle, the Texas prosecutor who has indicted associates of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay in an ongoing campaign-finance investigation, dropped felony charges against several corporations indicted in the probe in return for the corporations' agreement to make five- and six-figure contributions to one of Earle's pet causes. ...
Earle's deals with the corporations received relatively little press coverage in light of reporters' continuing interest in the DeLay angle of the story. What coverage there was, was not entirely accurate, according to the Sears sources.
On January 12 of this year, the Los Angeles Times reported that the corporations had "flipped," that is, agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Citing unnamed sources, the paper reported that "information gleaned from the companies could be used as leverage to pressure remaining defendants and, potentially, to target more powerful members of the Republican Party in Texas and Washington."
The "flipped" reference rankled insiders. "That was absolutely not true," says one Sears source. "There was no shred of truth to it." Sears officials, the sources say, had already cooperated fully, telling Earle everything they knew about Sears' lone contribution to TRMPAC. In addition, the sources say, Sears had no knowledge of any illegal activity on the part of anyone else. The implication that Sears had turned state's evidence and might finger other companies involved in similarly illegal acts -- which, of course, Sears denied it had committed -- was, the sources contend, simply wrong.
Ronnie Earle has a history of fake indictments and usually loses.
The trouble is some useful idiots will buy the lie, and vote accordingly.
This indictment will slow down new law making by the House of Representatives - I think that falls under the general heading of Obstruction of Justice. It is also, of course, a frivolous lawsuit and I believe both of those are illegal and merit a countersuit by Rep. Delay. Fight fire with fire!
Delay has been arrogant about his power for some time. This happens back in DC (examples include Rosty and others). He may beat this but the whole point was to wound him and take him down a peg or two. I hope he learns from this.
When I heard this was the same guy that went after Kay Baily Huchinson, I knew it was a sham. This guy should get his license yanked for a period of time.
Levin ought to stick to conservative judicial commentary and quit shielding every corrupt politician with an R in front of his name.