Will Earle Be On Trial For Misconduct?
Who Had Their Hand In The Cookie Jar?
(Washingtonpost.com) WASHINGTON -- A conspiracy charge against former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay should be thrown out because a Texas district attorney tried to "browbeat and coerce" grand jurors into filing criminal charges, the Republican congressman's attorneys say.
DeLay's legal team alleged prosecutorial misconduct in a court filing Friday in Austin, Texas.
DeLay attorney Dick DeGuerin said prosecutor Ronnie Earle "and his staff engaged in an extraordinarily irregular and desperate attempt to contrive a viable charge and get a substitute indictment of Tom DeLay before the expiration of the statute of limitations."
"These claims have no merit," Earle responded in a statement. "Because of the laws protecting grand jury secrecy, no other comments can be made. The investigation is continuing."
Combine this with the accusations of DeLay’s lawyers that Earle also accepted illegal campaign funds from corporations, and that he blackmailed other companies to contribute to pet projects or be indicted, and you have a very fuzzy picture lining up.
Anyone else see the amazing similarities between Earle’s statements now, and DeLay’s statements when the indictment first came out? Funny how both of them “cannot comment” on things, but assure us that the claims are “baseless”.
But I’m sure DeLay is the only one here that has done something sinister.
(Washingtonpost.com) WASHINGTON -- A conspiracy charge against former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay should be thrown out because a Texas district attorney tried to "browbeat and coerce" grand jurors into filing criminal charges, the Republican congressman's attorneys say.
DeLay's legal team alleged prosecutorial misconduct in a court filing Friday in Austin, Texas.
DeLay attorney Dick DeGuerin said prosecutor Ronnie Earle "and his staff engaged in an extraordinarily irregular and desperate attempt to contrive a viable charge and get a substitute indictment of Tom DeLay before the expiration of the statute of limitations."
"These claims have no merit," Earle responded in a statement. "Because of the laws protecting grand jury secrecy, no other comments can be made. The investigation is continuing."
Combine this with the accusations of DeLay’s lawyers that Earle also accepted illegal campaign funds from corporations, and that he blackmailed other companies to contribute to pet projects or be indicted, and you have a very fuzzy picture lining up.
Anyone else see the amazing similarities between Earle’s statements now, and DeLay’s statements when the indictment first came out? Funny how both of them “cannot comment” on things, but assure us that the claims are “baseless”.
But I’m sure DeLay is the only one here that has done something sinister.
