Posted on 05/20/2005 4:55:24 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952
State GOP leaders says Earle should resign for singling out DeLay in attack on political corruption
By Laylan Copelin
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Friday, May 20, 2005
The state's chief prosecutor of white-collar crime in government, Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, was expounding on a favorite topic — political corruption.
He blamed moneyed interests, particularly corporations. He likened political money to paying off the Mafia. He talked of the need to rescue democracy. He cited FDR and Mussolini. And then he likened U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay to a bully.
It's not really anything Earle hasn't said before in a courtroom or to reporters, but last week he was giving a speech as a headliner before about 100 Democratic Party activists at a Dallas fundraiser.
On Thursday, as his comments circulated through the Capitol, his detractors greeted it with either silence — or a call for his resignation.
Earle, a Democrat long accused by Republicans of conducting a partisan witch hunt while investigating corporate money in the 2002 elections, waved off the criticism, promising to give the same speech to any group — Republican or Democrat — that wants to hear it.
"I'd speak to any group interested in honest and open government," Earle said. "I've said the same things a number of times."
State GOP Chairman Tina Benkiser called for him to resign.
"For Ronnie Earle to say with a straight face that he is an unbiased prosecutor is laughable," she said in a press release. "Ronnie Earle's political motives are transparent. He is tainted, and he should resign."
She said that Earle's speech to raise money for Democratic candidates showed his true partisan nature and that his motive for the investigation has "everything to do with electing Democrats and attempting to bring down the most effective House majority leader in modern history."
Jerry Polinard, a political professor at the University of Texas-Pan American, said he was surprised Earle would talk about an ongoing investigation, even generally, in front of a partisan crowd.
"If you are going to be arguing this is not a partisan investigation, it's best you don't make it part of the speech to partisans," Polinard said. "It feeds the fire. It seems ill-advised and perhaps inappropriate at worst."
Earle made the speech at a Dallas residence for the Texas Values and Action Coalition, a political action committee created this year to help elect Democrats to local and state offices. The event, at $500 per person, raised $100,000, said Dallas lawyer Russell Langley, a co-founder of the committee.
In his eight-page speech, Earle made one reference to DeLay: "This case is not just about Tom DeLay. If it isn't this Tom DeLay, it'll be another one, just like one bully replaces the one before."
A call to DeLay's office seeking comment was not returned Thursday.
Langley said Earle was invited to speak because he would attract a crowd.
"People have had a sense there's something wrong in our state government," Langley said. "We felt he would be a perfect speaker to set a tone for the kind of elected officials we'd like to bring in office."
As for Earle's comment about DeLay, Langley said, "Anytime you are talking to Democrats and you mention Tom DeLay, we know he's the bad guy." He dismissed Benkiser's call for Earle to resign: "When Tom DeLay decides to resign and stop bullying people, they'll have some high ground to talk."
Last fall, a Travis County grand jury indicted three DeLay associates with Texans for a Republican Majority and eight corporations on felony charges including money laundering and accepting or making illegal corporate donations.
Earle continues to investigate the state's largest business organization, the Texas Association of Business, among others.
State law generally prohibits corporate or union money from being spent on campaign activity.
The groups and individuals under investigation deny breaking the law, saying the corporate money spent on mailers or consultants or fundraisers was not used to advocate the election or defeat of candidates.
While DeLay was not indicted, the investigation of the Texas political committee he created has added to his troubles. The U.S. House ethics committee reprimanded DeLay three times last year, and now he's responding to questions about overseas trips and his relationship with Washington lobbyists.
DeLay was the only current politician named in Earle's Dallas speech.
In the speech, Earle blamed the "tone of corruption in government" on the combination of money and power.
"Those corporations and moneyed interests are paying $10,000, $25,000 and up for 'face time' with powerful politicians of both parties so they can get special deals that rob the pockets of John and Jane Citizen," Earle said.
He said his intent is to "start a conversation" about the role of money in politics and raised the question of whether it's time for Texas to consider the public financing of elections.
It was his one sentence about DeLay, however, that raised eyebrows at the Capitol as lawmakers passed around a copy of his remarks first reported in the Houston Chronicle.
Republicans on the periphery of the controversy declined comment, knowing that Earle's investigation is continuing.
Bill Ceverha, who was sued over his role as treasurer of Texans for a Republican Majority, Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick and TAB President Bill Hammond said little or nothing in response.
"He's just doing his job," said Hammond, mimicking a phrase by Earle.
Rep. Terry Keel, R-Austin, worked for Earle as a prosecutor and has defended his integrity as a prosecutor in the past.
"I wouldn't propose to second-guess him on that," Keel said. "I suppose that's his individual right to do so, but it's a little out of character for him."
Indeed, Earle has declined to say he's investigating DeLay, usually saying the prosecutors will go where the evidence leads them. But Earle has reaped a bonanza of national publicity — from "60 Minutes" to The New York Times to Esquire magazine — as the prosecutor taking on DeLay.
Earle, however, said he has no higher political ambitions.
He considered retiring — and even flirted with the idea of running for governor — before he ran for re-election in 2004.
He said he is committed to finishing his term through 2008, when he will be a just a month from 67, and finishing the investigation.
"I can't run for anything without resigning," he said. "I don't intend to do that."
More Earle comments:
April 2003
'They dictated laws; they enriched themselves and produced public anger that resulted in a reform movement. We really can't allow corporate wealth to translate into political power without abusing the public interest.'
— In a courtroom speech in which he likened the Texas Association of Business to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and to the American robber barons of a century ago.
June 2004
'This isn't about Tom DeLay; it's about corporate greed. They can always find another Tom DeLay.'
— To the Austin American-Statesman, explaining why his office was investigating businesses with links to DeLay.
November 2004
'This investigation is a little like clowns coming out of a Volkswagen in the circus. There's always another clown coming out.'
— Hinting to Newsweek magazine that his office's investigation into alleged illegal fundraising by Texans for a Republican Majority will result in more indictments.
Here is another thread from yesterday.
Whether he resigns or not, ( and he won't) I think he's been neutered by this disclosure..if he did indict DeLay now..it would be seen as a political stunt..
ronnie earle is a hunk of garbage. I apologize to all the garbage in the landfills in the world, but this POS county DA needs to go.
Looks like there are several threads on this story. Here are two more.
Self-inflicted wound (Ronnie Earle investigates Tom DeLay and fund raises using DeLay)
Prosecutor in probe of DeLay PAC raises funds for other side
Maybe some FReeper can help me with the legalites here. Couldn't this be considered "malicious prosecution"? Isn't that enough to remove a DA and possibly even disbar him?
bump!
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