DeLay: Ethics complaint should be dropped

Houston Chronicle ^ | JOHN FRANK

[Michael Goldsberry]

DeLay: Ethics complaint should be dropped

Overlapping of two cases may affect House probe

By JOHN FRANK Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - On the same day that three of Tom DeLay's closest political associates were charged with illegal campaign fund-raising activities in the 2002 campaign, the House majority leader continued to insist that a House ethics complaint against him should be dropped.

The complaint filed earlier this year by Rep. Chris Bell, D-Houston, overlapped with some of the allegations covered in the Travis County grand-jury investigation of a political action committee DeLay helped create. But it's uncertain how Tuesday's criminal indictments in Austin will affect the ethics probe in Washington that's just starting to simmer.

''I know the ethics committee will do the right thing because these are frivolous charges set up for political reasons to try to influence the election," DeLay said Tuesday.

Bell's complaint says DeLay abused power, misused government resources against Democrats and improperly raised campaign funds.

On Monday, leaders of the House ethics committee said they planned to present to committee members information they've obtained on the three-part complaint. The 10-member bipartisan committee could send the allegations to an investigative subcommittee, dismiss some allegations while ordering a probe of others or throw everything out.

"'These indictments are a clear indication that the ethics complaint against Mr. Delay is substantive and extremely serious," Bell said Tuesday.

"Anything less than a full investigation would signify a failure on the part of the committee to fulfill their responsibility to protect the integrity of the House."

When the committee first got the DeLay complaint three months ago, members noted the possibility that portions overlapping with the Texas case could be deferred, pending the outcome of the criminal probes.

[San Jacinto]

Most Freepers know this, but for the few who do not:

Travis County DA Ronnie Earle is a partisan Democrat with a long history of abusing his office to help the dimoRATS and hurt Rebublicans.

When Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson was running for re-election, he got her indicted over some bogus charges advanced by her political enemies from her term as Texas State Treasurer.

The trial got moved from Earle's liberal enclave of Austin to Fort Worth. On the first day of trial Earle sought a postponement which was denied. The Judge said put on your case and DISTRICT ATTORNEY RONNIE EARLE REFUSED TO PUT ON A SINGLE WITNESS--HE NEVER INTENDED TO PROSECUTE THE CASE AGAINST SENATOR HUTCHINSON UNLESS HE COULD PICK A JURY FROM AMONG HIS LIBERAL FRIENDS IN AUSTIN.

Ronnie Earle is a liberal, partisan hack who should himself be indicted for abuse of his office.

[Steely Tom]

NPR is hyping this story this morning. They gave approximately 5 minutes to reporter Peter Overby to tell the story. I'm not sure if he ever mentioned the Travis County connection (I switched over to Laura Ingraham), but their top-of-the-hour round-up featured another reporter on the story, and he mentioned that this indictment was handed down by a Travis County grand jury only at the end of his report.

Memorable in this second report: the line that ended it, which was something like this: ...accused of funneling corporate money into the Texas GOP's successful effort to take over the Texas House of Representatives.

(steely)

[Arrowhead1952]

Another Ronnie Earle alert ping. I think Rush is correct about the Travis County RAT party being behind the See BS dan bla^ther Memogate

[MeekOneGOP]

Ronnie Earle, I could crush you with ONE HAND!

[SwinneySwitch]

The Earle of Injustice

[Texagirl4W]

You're on a roll today, Meek. Very good graphics.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thank you. :^D

[Arrowhead1952]

The Earle of Injustice

Well said. Unfortunately, I live in Travis Co. I wish there was a way to vote Earle out, but with all the libs here that will never happen. You can bet on one thing, if this had been dumbocRATs with "illegal" campaign donations, Earle would have looked the other way.

[Vision]

Thank you for the explanation. I was looking for that

[SwinneySwitch]

I got it off the Texas GOP website.

Earle needs to go away.

http://www.texasgop.org

[Arrowhead1952]

Thanks for the link SwinneySwitch. If anyone else wants to sign the letter to limit Earle's power, click on the link on reply #11. Thnaks.

[Bayou City]

Last night on another thread someone posted that this indictment was based on an obsolete law still on the Texas books, they also said that it has been ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court some time back. Has anyone else heard about this?

[MeekOneGOP]

I took that pic to my Adobe PhotoDeluxe .....

[MeekOneGOP]

I haven't heard that .....

[Gracey]

My understanding is that Ronny Earle HAS indicted Democrats, expecially when they infringe on his DemRAT friends. A snake is a snake is a snake... no matter which party.