Free Republic

Attorneys representing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have taken legal action against several Texas House Republicans and two Houston attorneys prosecuting Paxton, demanding they stop covertly contacting witnesses related to what they say is a meritless impeachment proceeding. The letter (pdf) was sent on June 8 to Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, the co-chairs of the Texas House General Investigating Committee Reps. Andrew Murr (R) and Ann Johnson (D), and to Houston attorneys Rusty Hardin and Dick DeGuerin. Paxton’s attorneys accused the recipients of the letter and their agents of “improper contact” with potential witnesses, including employees of the Texas...

Robert Durst’s lawyer said Tuesday that his 71-year-old client “was tricked” while filming the HBO documentary in which the millionaire was recorded saying "What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course." “The editing was designed for good television, but it wasn’t designed to get to the truth," attorney Dick DeGuerin said in an interview on the "Today" show. "The Jinx" chronicled the life of the eccentric and controversial real estate heir, including the 1982 disappearance of his first wife, Kathleen, the 2000 death of his friend Susan Berman and the 2001 shooting death and dismemberment of Durst’s...

Jurors returned a not guilty verdict Friday evening in the aggravated assault of Central Texas singer-songwriter Billy Joe Shaver, 70, who was accused of shooting Billy Bryant Coker in 2007 outside of Papa Joe’s Saloon in Lorena, Texas. Shaver, however, still faces a charge for unlawfully carrying a firearm in a licensed premises, which is a third-degree felony. The judge required him to post a $7,500 bond by next week and told him he was free to go. Shaver left the courthouse to head to Houston, where he was scheduled to perform Friday night. Coker’s family declined comment, although Coker’s...

Perry defends DeLay, calls Earle 'overzealous' ASSOCIATED PRESS FORT WORTH (AP) - Gov. Rick Perry defended U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay on Monday, saying his recent indictments on conspiracy and money laundering charges stem from work by an "overzealous prosecutor." "I'm for Tom DeLay. I don't get confused about what's going on here," Perry, a fellow Republican, said after speaking about economic development at a Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce lunch. "The fact of the matter is - I happen to think that this is an overzealous prosecutor who is working very hard to take a Texan off of the national...

RUSH: The Associated Press, in their slug to their first story about this, by their reporterette, their info babe, Laurie Kellman: "DeLay's Mug Shot Smile Hurts Democrat Chances in '06." That is a headline from the Associated Press! Now, I told you people from day one that this is what Ronnie Earle and the Democrats wanted. They wanted this mug shot and they wanted his fingerprints and they wanted the perp walk. Now, they didn't get the perp walk, but they wanted that mug shot so they could use that picture for the rest of DeLay's life. Now, it probably...

On Tuesday, October 10th, Tom DeLay's lawyers tried to serve Travis County District Attorney Ronnie with a subpoena and a Motion to Quash the Indictment on the Basis of Prosectorial Misconduct, but Earle allegedly refused to accept it, then later claimed that he had voluntarily accepted it even though the subpoena was flawed. The subpoena allesges misconduct with grand jurors by Earle. DeGuerin said acceptance of the subpoena was voluntary Tuesday because it had not been stamped by a court official, but added that the defense team would go through the court procedure Wednesday and redeliver it. He said Earle, district attorney...

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay indicted on one count of criminal conspiracy by Texas grand jury, according to Travis County clerk's office.