Representative Tom DeLay of Texas, the powerful House Republican majority leader, was accused by a Texas grand jury today of criminal conspiracy in a campaign fund-raising scheme. Mr. DeLay was indicted on one count charging that he violated state election laws in September 2002. Two political associates, John D. Colyandro and James W. Ellis, were indicted with him. Democrats were quick to seize on Mr. DeLay's troubles. "The criminal indictment of Majority Leader Tom Delay is the latest example that Republicans in Congress are plagued by a culture of corruption at the expense of the American people," the House minority leader, Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, said in a statement.


Full article in


Article Link to NY Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/28/politics/28cnd-delay.html?hp&ex=1127966400&en=9bd5e2ff29f4fdc2&ei=5094&partner=homepage)

A little light starting to show through the cracks in the wall...

..and it's about TIME!

Hopefully, someday soon, good old George will be indicted as well!

Yeah!

Patti

Hopefully, someday soon, good old George will be indicted as well!

Yeah!

Patti

What is good about him?

thanks titantoo for putting an end this thread! lol jk

lemme think............. he's realllllllllllllly good ............for LYING!

Cant say I feel a bit sorry for this guy! He has always been one of those no mercy for criminals, politicians. I think this made my whole week http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9507677/

Personally I do not know much about this man but if what you say is true that he has no mercy for those of us who commit crimes, than I hope he gets his due.

Was this a Federal charge or a State charge?

state

Tom Delay has made his career out of pushing an extreme conservative agenda and the character assasination of his rivals. What happened yesterday is pure Karma.

:angry: DARN!!!

My schadenfreude is kicking in BIG-TIME!!!(For those who always wanted a word for the feeling - getting a grin out of someone else's problems)

Ther is much I would like to say on this subject but, my time is limited there fore let me simple ask.... Does turning into your worst enemy make the wold a better place? Why is the unacceptable behavior of Mr. Delay suppose to look better on you?

Keep the Faith

Michael :thumbsup:

PS: We are better than that.

Regardless of the politics of Mr. Delay, I have to say that his family and friends are now one of us. And we need to remember here on the forum to be respectful of their feelings now that they are facing the difficulty of coping with the criminal justice system. Also, in general we must remember that people are innocent until proven guilty. If we cannot keep those factors in mind for everyone then how can we expect others to give us that understanding and respect? We don't have to respect what someone has DONE but we need to offer support to everyone here and hope that this experience will bring all of us to a better and more enlightened place as we travel this journey. Remember that all experiences are like dropping a pebble into the water and the resultant ripples go out to touch a greater number of people. Perhaps Mr. Delay's indictment will bring some powerful people to a place of better understanding the effects of our court and prison systems. Zelda

My opinion stands, the guy had it coming. If nothing else maybe a wake up call for him.

:angry: DARN!!!
Funny!!

Ok, Seriously, wouldn't state be better for him. Their prisons suck, and we all know, very few people like politicians. And, if it is true, that he had no mercy for criminals, he is getting what he deserves. Would he even survive in a state prison. Do they have different kinds, like the fed system?

Mike

I imagine that if an elected district attorney had publicly vowed to bring me down and pursued an indictment for three years with six grand juries, I too would stand accused of conspiracy.

I have seen the overuse of conspiracy charges at the federal and state level lambasted here repeatedly. Praising such a charge because one dislikes the accused person or his politics seems most improper.

Well said, Zelda...

Agreed also, Robert.. Right or wrong..

This is a state charge, however it really doesn't fit Texas, where it is taking place..

Will leave a re-direct from the Federal Forum.

David

Zelda,I could not agree more with your comment, generally. However, Delay will never be one of us, so to speak. His arrogance and historic abuses of power preclude him from ever coming down a few notches and becoming a real person. I truly hope that he does have the opportunity to become more in tune with what we have gone through---particularly those of us who have spent some time in a prison.

Does he stand a chance of beating this? I think at a jury trial he would have a very tough time winning.

what goes around comes around. no empathy from me here.

Everyone always stands a chance. It is usually a matter of money, power and influence, however. Sometimes one's guilt or innocence even plays a role. Sometimes something called "justice" gets involved and messes everything up for the prosecutor.

Everyone always stands a chance. It is usually a matter of money, power and influence, however. Sometimes one's guilt or innocence even plays a role. Sometimes something called "justice" gets involved and messes everything up for the prosecutor.

I agree, but I am not sure if Power and Influence works with a jury. It did not help him avoid an indictment.
As for guilt or innocence, unfortunatley, most people think all politicians are crooks, even though some may not be.

Mike

Ronnie Earle is one of 300 elected DA's in Texas. When the Republican machine gets through with him he won't be able to get a job chasing traffic scofflaws. They are already trying to "redistrict" him out of existence--as of yesterday.

As to Mike's last comment I guess we will differ on the definition of "crook." In my opinion they all are and I haven't met one that didnt try to get their hands in the public cookie jar. NOT ONE.

"There's no question that a lot of people have been out after DeLay for a long time," said Norman Ornstein, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. Still, Mr. Ornstein said, "They wouldn't have gotten anywhere if there weren't a lot of grist for that mill."

Full article at

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/02/weekinreview/02kornblut.html?hp&ex=1128312000&en=eba153bd93c71571&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Ronnie Earle is one of 300 elected DA's in Texas. When the Republican machine gets through with him he won't be able to get a job chasing traffic scofflaws. They are already trying to "redistrict" him out of existence--as of yesterday.

As to Mike's last comment I guess we will differ on the definition of "crook." In my opinion they all are and I haven't met one that didnt try to get their hands in the public cookie jar. NOT ONE.

I agree with you, my personal opion is they are all crooks. Some people don't agee with me.

I have been looking for more news. Has anyone heard anything??

A grand jury in Texas issued a second indictment on Monday against Representative Tom DeLay, accusing the Texas Republican and two aides of money laundering in a $190,000 transaction that prosecutors have described as a violation of the state's ban on the use of corporate money in local election campaigns.

Full article at

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/04/politics/04delay.html?hp&ex=1128484800&en=8ff16cde54407f43&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Regardless of the politics of Mr. Delay, I have to say that his family and friends are now one of us. And we need to remember here on the forum to be respectful of their feelings now that they are facing the difficulty of coping with the criminal justice system. Also, in general we must remember that people are innocent until proven guilty. If we cannot keep those factors in mind for everyone then how can we expect others to give us that understanding and respect? We don't have to respect what someone has DONE but we need to offer support to everyone here and hope that this experience will bring all of us to a better and more enlightened place as we travel this journey. Remember that all experiences are like dropping a pebble into the water and the resultant ripples go out to touch a greater number of people. Perhaps Mr. Delay's indictment will bring some powerful people to a place of better understanding the effects of our court and prison systems. Zelda

You are right. Although I wish the last sentence was true somehow I doubt it.

Indeed, there are similarities in timing between the two cases. In 1993, a Texas grand jury impaneled by Mr. Earle issued a last-minute indictment against Mrs. Hutchison. It was handed up on Sept. 27, the year before Mrs. Hutchison faced election. This year, a Texas grand jury again issued its last-minute indictment against Mr. DeLay. Again, the indictment was handed up on Sept. 27 and again, it is the year before Mr. DeLay faces election.
If Mrs. Hutchison's case is any indicator, Mr. DeLay may be in for a long haul. Her case did not go away until the following February, when Mr. Earle tried dropping the case for a lack of evidence. Mr. DeGuerin, however, refused to let the charges be dropped, and the jury exonerated her.

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20051003-102109-4125r.htm

The two-page motion, filed just before the close of business in district court in Travis County, asserted that Ronnie Earle, the district attorney, had "attempted to browbeat and coerce" jurors into bringing a second indictment against Mr. DeLay after the validity of an earlier indictment was called into question. The motion accused him of prosecutorial misconduct.


Full article at


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/08/politics/08delay.html

A state prosecutor subpoenaed the phone records of Representative Tom DeLay and his daughter on Thursday as part of an investigation that has already produced two conspiracy indictments against Mr. DeLay.
Mr. DeLay has said he had nothing to do with the day-to-day operations of the political action committee, Texans for a Republican Majority, and did not know about the transfers when they occurred. His lawyers have tried to subpoena Mr. Earle to answer their accusations of improper conduct by the district attorney's office in the investigation of Mr. DeLay. Prosecutors have not suggested that Mr. DeLay's daughter, Danielle DeLay Ferro, is under suspicion. Ms. Ferro, a Texas political consultant and one of her father's closest campaign aides, was previously subpoenaed to turn over records to a grand jury in Texas. Mr. DeLay is scheduled to make his first court appearance in the case in Austin next Friday.
Full article at


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/14/national/14delay.html