DeLay Accuses Earle of Taking Corporate Funds

The Washington Times ^ | October 7, 2005 | Stephen Dinan

[flattorney]

Rep. Tom DeLay said District Attorney Ronnie Earle, who is prosecuting him for trying to involve corporate money in Texas politics, has taken such contributions himself. "It's real interesting he has this crusade against corporate funds. He took corporate funds, and he's taken union funds, for his own re-election. That's against the law," Mr. DeLay told The Washington Times yesterday.

A review of Mr. Earle's campaign-finance filings in Texas shows that he has received contributions from the AFL-CIO, including a $250 donation on Aug. 29, 2000. He also has received contributions listed on the disclosure forms only as coming from the name of an incorporated entity, often a law firm. Mr. Earle has said repeatedly that state law bars corporate and union contributions. Attempts to reach Mr. Earle yesterday for comment, including a phone message left on his assistant's voice mail detailing Mr. DeLay's charge, were unsuccessful.

#snip#

The Texan said his legal defense is simple. "Money raised legally by corporations was sent to the RNSEC. They took that money -- what is it, Texas is only one of 16 states that forbids corporate funds to be in campaigns, the vast majority of the country's campaigns can accept corporate money -- that money went to them," he said. "In fact, $1.4 million was sent to Texas [by the RNSEC], not just $198,500."

#snip# - Read Rest of Article

[writer33]

Send Lawyers, Guns and Money to get Delay out of this.

:)

[Southack]

DeLay's team shoots and scores again!

So Ronnie Earle has called up 3 grand juries over "corporate money." 1 Grand Jury indicted DeLay...except, the transaction wasn't illegal so it got thrown out.

The 2nd Grand Jury no billed DeLay...enraging Ronnie Earle with their refusal to indict DeLay.

The 3rd Grand Jury, on its first morning, indicted DeLay based upon Ronnie Earle's claimed "new evidence" (that he hasn't revealed to anyone and probably lied about having)...

...And now it turns out that Ronnie Earle has been taking the very "corporate money" that he claims is illegal!

What a schmuck. He's going to burn in the limelight.

[hsalaw]

The Hammer isn't taking this lying down. Earle may have put his finger in the socket on this one. BWAHAHAHAH!

[flattorney]

I've been reviewing the SEC disclosures on the four indicted corporations that settled their charges with Ronnie Earle. Below is one of them. I fully understand that the amounts involved were so minor that the corporations really didn't care, but I find this settlement agreement very dangerous and flat out blackmail by Ronnie Earle.

---

Exhibit 99.2
NO. 9-04-0562
THE STATE OF TEXAS ss. IN THE 331st JUDICIAL
V. ss. DISTRICT COURT

CRACKER BARREL
OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.
ss. TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS

AGREEMENT
########
#snip pr 1 - 2#

The Defendant certifies that, following the Indictment, it has reviewed its existing policies and has adopted additional internal polices that are designed to reflect its commitment against making illegal political contributions in the
State of Texas. The parties acknowledge that the State has been furnished with and has reviewed and approved Defendant's internal compliance policies (the "Compliance Policies") regarding political contributions that Defendant adopted subsequent to the Indictment.

In consideration of Defendant's adoption of the Compliance Policies, the State does hereby dismiss the Indictment and agrees to take, within three (3) days of the execution of this agreement, such formal action as is necessary to evidence such dismissal. In the event that Defendant abides by the remaining terms of the agreement, the State will not seek a new indictment related to the offense alleged in the Indictment (or any offense reasonably related thereto, including, without limitation, indictment of any current officers or directors of Defendant or Defendant's parent corporation related to this contribution) and will take no other steps to proceed with prosecution of the case against Defendant.

#snip pr 4#

Any violation of the remaining terms of this agreement by Defendant within the statute of limitations may result in presentation of the case to another grand jury and continued prosecution.

In exchange for dismissal of the Indictment, the Defendant agrees to the following:

1. Defendant will publicly disclose all corporate political contributions on its website for a period of two years from the date of this agreement.

2. Defendant will not make any illegal corporate political contributions in the State of Texas or in any other state that prohibits corporate political contributions.

3. Defendant will cooperate with the State of Texas in its prosecution and investigation of any other person for any offense related to the corporate contribution made by Defendant that is the subject of the Indictment.

#snip item 4 - contact addresses of both parties#

The State of Texas, by and through her District Attorney, enters into this agreement after taking into consideration the following:

1. Based upon the evidence obtained by the State during the course of its nvestigation of this case, the offense alleged in the indictment appears to consist only of a single incident that allegedly occurred within the State of Texas and does not constitute a continuing course of conduct.

2. The facts indicate that Defendant may have approved the contribution that is the subject of the Indictment on the basis of false and misleading information provided by the fundraiser who solicited the contribution and that, in any event, that there was no intent on the part of the Defendant to violate any laws relative to campaign finance including, without limitation, the applicable laws of the State of Texas.

3. Defendant no longer employs the person responsible for submitting the contribution request.

4. Defendant has demonstrated to the District Attorney that it has a history of good citizenship and high ethical standards.

5. The District Attorney believes that the public would be better served by resolving this case through this agreement.

6. The District Attorney believes that resolution of this case by way of this agreement will serve to cause corporations to more closely monitor and evaluate their political contributions in Texas and throughout the United States.

7. The Defendant, after discussions with the District Attorney, has decided to provide Fifty Thousand and 00/100 dollars ($50,000) to financially support a nonpartisan, balanced and publicly informative program or series of programs to The LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas -Austin.

Additionally, Defendant and the State of Texas enter into this agreement with the understanding that if Defendant fails to comply with the terms of the agreement and the prosecution of this offense proceeds to trial, that this agreement will not and cannot be used as evidence by either side at trial.

The Defendant further acknowledges that the historical basis for the Texas prohibition against corporate political contributions is that they constitute a genuine threat to democracy.

Finally, Defendant understands and agrees that the State will file this document as an attachment to the dismissal of the case.

[SIGNATURES APPEAR ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

#snip - sigs to document#

[smoothsailing]

Send Lawyers, Guns and Money to get DeLay out of this.

...And Big Bad Snarly Dogs with Nasty Sharp Teeth. Woof! ;)

Hey Chris,how ya been?

[flattorney]

"Word" is DeLay needs to raise $1.5 million for his legal defense against these phony indictments, which will be no problem for the biggest money raiser in Washington, Teflon Tom. Kay Bailey Hutchinson blew approx $1.1 million on her defense with Dick DeGuerin, against Earle in 1994, and the charges were dropped the day of the trial.

I understand that TD has $1/4 million in his legal defense fund currently and raised approx $1/4 million in Houston last Thur & Fri nights at his legal fund raisers.

[saganite]

I hadn't heard the first charge was thrown out? Is that true and can you provide a link? Thanks.

[D-fendr]

Do you know how to get a list of contributors to Earle?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

DeLay needs our support. He's one of the few Republicans with balls in the entire Congress.

[flattorney]

1 (First) Grand Jury indicted DeLay...except, the transaction wasn't illegal so it got thrown out.

There has been no ruling by a Travis County Judge on this matter. The first indictment is still valid at this juncture.

[msnimje]

This reminds me of something my father used to say, "If your preacher is always preaching against sex, don't leave him alone with your wife."

[Southack]

"There has been no ruling by a Travis County Judge on this matter. The first indictment is still valid at this juncture."

That's true...but only technically. Ronnie Earle rushed the 2nd indictment precisely because even he knows that the most sympathetic left-wing judge will have to throw out the first charge (the law didn't go into effect until after the impugned behavior).

The first indictment is toast...though as you both point out, still standing for the moment simply because the Judge hasn't ruled on the dismissal motion yet.

[MarkT]

Additionally and as damning, Earle did not disclose publicly as is required by law the 'no-bill' decision...if the 3rd grand jury had known that a previous grand jury had 'no-billed' days earlier, they very well may have done the same.

[Loyal Buckeye]

MSM:

Tom DeLay is guilty of being rude...

Therefore, he is guilty...

Of money laundering.

[Jarhead1957]

Thanks Freepers, keeping this alive and front page may help clean up Travis County, and turn it a little purple.

earle reminds me of the old Felix the Cat cartoon, he keeps reaching in his bag of trips and coming out with a nes trick.

Keep on Freeping.

[dfwgator]

Earle is about to become a nail.

[ManHunter]

I do believe (and fervently hope) that Mr. DeLay has enough juice to make Mr. Earle's life real miserable for awhile...

[Jarhead1957]

I'm off to get another cup of coffee; I think I misspelled every word in my last post.

[Jarhead1957]

Thanks for the post yesterday: Will Ronnie Earle's Political Son & Daughter Get Heat for Dad's act?

It is the first time I had heard that his son Jason Earle, is trying to succeed state Rep. Terry Keel, R-Austin. I know one vote he will not get!!

His daughter Liz running for DA is enough to give a conservative heart burn.

[flattorney]

Additionally and as damning, Earle did not disclose publicly as is required by law the 'no-bill' decision...if the 3rd grand jury had known that a previous grand jury had 'no-billed' days earlier, they very well may have done the same.

Yes, very obvious why the filing of this document was held up.

[uberPatriot]

Unfortunately, Delay and the Times are mistaken about this. Lawyer firms, for some bizarre reason (that we can easily guess), are not on the restricted list. Union contributions can only be used to cover overhead, so the $250 might be legit. It's complete BS that contributions from lawyers aren't covered, but Earle appears to in the clear on this one.

[Southack]

You're missing the point. Let Earle explain to the Jury that his corporate contributions are OK, but that DeLay's corporate contributions aren't.

That's something that Earle would prefer to keep secret rather than debate. It's inconvenient for him.

[Polyxene]

"The Hammer isn't taking this lying down."

Got that right!! Mr. Earle is messing with the wrong guy. He is going to be on the receiving end of these indictments before this is over.

[drjimmy]

You're missing the point. Let Earle explain to the Jury that his corporate contributions are OK, but that DeLay's corporate contributions aren't.

I don't know why Earle would have to explain anything about his corporate contributions to a jury. But if for some bizarre reason it was necessary, simply citing Texas law would take care of that.

[Southack]

You're misunderstanding the emotional impact that hypocrisy holds for most jurors, personally.

"The law" is a distant second to hypocrisy inside the jury box.

[drjimmy]

You're misunderstanding the emotional impact that hypocrisy holds for most jurors, personally.

My point was that I cannot imagine a judge allowing this issue to be mentioned to a jury. And can you see Delay's attorney telling the jury, "What my client did may be illegal, but what the district attorney did should be illegal, too"?

[Southack]

It doesn't work like that. You get the jury to hear it by getting it into the news cycle before the jury is even seated.

...for instance, you think that a jury hasn't heard bits of Ken Lay (that a judge would never permit) before his case goes to trial?!

...Pause...

DeLay's attorneys didn't make a trial motion...they gave a press release.

[notigar]

Getting what into the news cycle, that Delay doesn't understand they law?

[Terabitten]

Send Lawyers, Guns and Money to get Delay out of this.

And send Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner along with them.

[drjimmy]

It doesn't work like that. You get the jury to hear it by getting it into the news cycle before the jury is even seated.

You make an excellent point that I concede is perfectly valid to this case.

[hsalaw]

DFW says Earle is about to become a nail. How appropriate for The Hammer!

[mware]

I just heard John Gibson say that DeLays lawyer has charged Earle with prosecutorial misconduct.

The Judge seemed to think it meant either he lied to the GJ or held back some information.

[MarshallDillon]

I am in Travis County, Texas and have a brand new JURY $UMMON$. Can we talk (Doubleday?).... LOL