Earle sues over DeLay investigation secrecy

AP ^ | 7/11/2006 | Not given

[T'wit]

AUSTIN — Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle is suing to keep secret the details about his investigation of indicted former House majority leader Tom DeLay.

The Houston Chronicle filed a request under Texas' open records law in March seeking vouchers, hotel and airfare receipts, budget documents, memos and e-mails describing the expenses for the DeLay inquiry and related investigations.

DeLay, indicted last year on conspiracy and money laundering charges connected to the financing of 2002 state legislative races, resigned from Congress on June 9.

Earle, in his attempt to keep details of his investigation out of public view, appealed to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, arguing that releasing the information could compromise the prosecution.

The state's lawyer, who reviewed examples of the information, generally ruled that Earle didn't have to disclose secret information related to grand jury investigations. But the attorney general noted that the public records law requires disclosure of "information in an account, voucher, or contract" relating to the expenditure of public monies, the Austin American-Statesman reported Tuesday.

Earle sued last week to overturn the legal opinion.

[austinaero]

Typical Dem, wanting to spend public money in a private manner.

[Arizona Carolyn]

He's got so darned many Democratic Judges to do his bidding, this thing could take years.

[AnnaZ]

Honestly, the way (cr)AP words their headlines makes me want to screeeeam. They are such disingenuous bastards.

[NonValueAdded]

Whoa, someone turned on the light and look at them scurry!

[gondramB]

>>It's taxpayers' money and they should be entitled to know how it's spent. I can hardly imagine legit prosecutorial expenses that warrant secrecy. I suppose if there's an invoice from Anthony Pellicano for wiretapping, it might raise a few eyebrows.<<

I was thinking that criminals might be able to use the information to track an investigation from the inside - to see who prosecutors are talking to, especially if the investigation involves travel that would leave a paper trail.

I don't have any problem with that being provided eventually but providing in the middle of a criminal investigation was my concern.

That said, this particular investigation needs to be examine because of bias allegations.

[nonliberal]

DeLay's side should leak them.

[T'wit]

>> Honestly, the way (cr)AP words their headlines makes me want to screeeeam.

I rate AP as the most destructive, anti-American news source, even ahead of the NYTimes. It is ubiquitous, and every one of its stories seems deliberately biased. I think they must have a secret school somewhere to teach bright young people how to be dishonest and how to write badly.

[T'wit]

>> I don't have any problem with that being provided eventually but providing in the middle of a criminal investigation was my concern.

I understand the concern, but secret parts of the investigation are already protected by law -- too much, imo. I don't think criminals could get much of a paper trail anyway. The point of a FOI search is to find out if maybe Ronnie Earle is the criminal. For that, he should have no hidey hole.

[gondramB]

>>I understand the concern, but secret parts of the investigation are already protected by law -- too much, imo. I don't think criminals could get much of a paper trail anyway. The point of a FOI search is to find out if maybe Ronnie Earle is the criminal. For that, he should have no hidey hole.<<

This particular case clearly needs to be investigated.