Keruvalia
21-09-2004, 22:57
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/state/9722285.htm?1c
32 felony indictments returned in DeLay case
By Jay Root and John Moritz
Star-Telegram Austin Bureau
AUSTIN - A Travis County grand jury returned 32 indictments in the 2002 Republican fund-raising investigation Tuesday, alleging felony election code violations against a top aide to U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, the head of a political group DeLay founded and eight corporations that provided money for their activities.
Among the companies indicted on grounds that corporate money was illegally funneled into the 2002 legislative elections were Sears and Roebuck, Westar Energy Inc., Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Bacardi USA.
Three people were indicted: John Colyandro, former executive director of Texans for a Republican Majority, a group DeLay founded; Warren RoBold, a DeLay fund-raiser; and Jim Ellis, a top DeLay political aide.
An attorney for DeLay, Steve Brittain, said the congressman was cooperating fully with the investigation spearheaded by Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle. But Brittain raised questions about the timing of the indictments, issued just a few weeks before the 2004 elections. "All of these people felt very comfortable that they were not violating the law, that they were following the rules as they understood them," Brittain said. "On behalf of Congressman DeLay, we agree, we don't believe that anyone intentionally violated the law."
Earle, a Democrat, said the indictments stem from a 22-month investigation his office made into Republican fund raising on behalf of Texas House candidates during the 2002 election cycle. He said the investigation will continue after the present grand jury's term expires on Sept. 30.
"Texas law makes it a felony to both give and receive political contributions from corporations and labor unions," Earle said during an afternoon news conference. "In the fall of 2002, after the Texas Association of Business boasted that it had engaged in the wholesale flaunting of that law, this office began its investigation."
It was not immediately clear whether Earle intends to seek additional indictments, but he did say that more work remains to be done.
Republicans have suggested that Earle's investigation was politically motivated, and at one point GOP Gov. Rick Perry suggested that the district attorney was on a "witch hunt."
But speaking with reporters before the indictments were unveiled, Perry said that he, like most Texans, supports "the grand jury system."
That's what happens when you try to take Texas away from the people. Bastards.
32 felony indictments returned in DeLay case
By Jay Root and John Moritz
Star-Telegram Austin Bureau
AUSTIN - A Travis County grand jury returned 32 indictments in the 2002 Republican fund-raising investigation Tuesday, alleging felony election code violations against a top aide to U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, the head of a political group DeLay founded and eight corporations that provided money for their activities.
Among the companies indicted on grounds that corporate money was illegally funneled into the 2002 legislative elections were Sears and Roebuck, Westar Energy Inc., Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Bacardi USA.
Three people were indicted: John Colyandro, former executive director of Texans for a Republican Majority, a group DeLay founded; Warren RoBold, a DeLay fund-raiser; and Jim Ellis, a top DeLay political aide.
An attorney for DeLay, Steve Brittain, said the congressman was cooperating fully with the investigation spearheaded by Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle. But Brittain raised questions about the timing of the indictments, issued just a few weeks before the 2004 elections. "All of these people felt very comfortable that they were not violating the law, that they were following the rules as they understood them," Brittain said. "On behalf of Congressman DeLay, we agree, we don't believe that anyone intentionally violated the law."
Earle, a Democrat, said the indictments stem from a 22-month investigation his office made into Republican fund raising on behalf of Texas House candidates during the 2002 election cycle. He said the investigation will continue after the present grand jury's term expires on Sept. 30.
"Texas law makes it a felony to both give and receive political contributions from corporations and labor unions," Earle said during an afternoon news conference. "In the fall of 2002, after the Texas Association of Business boasted that it had engaged in the wholesale flaunting of that law, this office began its investigation."
It was not immediately clear whether Earle intends to seek additional indictments, but he did say that more work remains to be done.
Republicans have suggested that Earle's investigation was politically motivated, and at one point GOP Gov. Rick Perry suggested that the district attorney was on a "witch hunt."
But speaking with reporters before the indictments were unveiled, Perry said that he, like most Texans, supports "the grand jury system."
That's what happens when you try to take Texas away from the people. Bastards.