DeLay May Be Indicted

by Scott Shields, Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 12:05:39 AM EST

The AP is reporting tonight that the grand jury in Travis County, Texas may be ready to hand down "last-minute criminal indictments" against Tom DeLay tomorrow.

Conspiracy counts against two DeLay associates this month raised concerns with DeLay's lawyers, who fear the chances are greater that the majority leader could be charged with being part of the conspiracy. Before these counts, the investigation was more narrowly focused on the state election code.

By expanding the charges to include conspiracy, prosecutors made it possible for the Travis County grand jury to bring charges against DeLay. Otherwise, the grand jury would have lacked jurisdiction under state laws.

The Associated Press spoke to several lawyers familiar with the case, all of whom requested anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. DeLay, R-Texas, said Tuesday that prosecutors have interviewed him. He has insisted he committed no crimes and says Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, a Democrat, is pursuing the case for political reasons.

The disclosure came as congressional officials said top House Republicans were quietly considering how to respond if an indictment were issued.

Add this to the already bad ethics news for the Republican Party. The head of the Senate is caught up in multiple investigations for insider trading and stock dumping. Over on GOP-dominated K Street, Abramoff has been indicted for fraud and is closely tied to an on-going murder investigation. A White House staffer has been arrested for lying to federal investigators. And now possible criminal indictments for DeLay.

Last month, I credited the GOP with pulling off a corruption trifecta. I could just as easily have called it a corruption hat trick. Maybe I should have. Because ironically, in hockey there's a name for four goals in one game: a Texas hat trick. I can't think of a more fitting description for what we're seeing unfold in DC right now.




Tags: Republicans (all tags)

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hmm (none / 0)

YEa, it was said because DeLay isn't from Travis Country, he'd escape; I guess Ronnie Earle found a way.
by Jerome Armstrong on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 12:22:59 AM EST

They need to be shown that the rules apply to them (none / 0)

No matter how rich or powerful they are.. they are wrong..

Delay's deals don't pass the smell test.. At all.

The bottom line is that these guys have been crooked for so long that they don't even realize that they are completely out of control - and its very bad for our country (hey guys.. you do need to know its OURS, not YOURS) and EVIL..

Fascism worships might over right.. America has never been about that.. Their day will come.. the pendulum is swinging... And its because of guys like Delay.. They blew it..

by ultraworld on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 03:18:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. (none / 0)


by craverguy on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 12:40:19 AM EST

I'll believe it when I see it (none / 0)

I'm far too discouraged by this bunch of jokers to believe anyone has busted them in the chops until I see it done.

Frankly, I won't believe the DeLay indictment until he's convicted.

by jcjcjc on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 01:01:11 AM EST

Yeah. (none / 0)

You just know these guys are going to kick and scream and pull every trick they know to give the dogs the slip -- but it's amazing how far this thing seems to have gone already.

Somebody's hot on the heels of the Reep network, and whoever's driving this thing is halfway down the rabbit hole already.

F@ck, man: Graft, theft, fraud, murder. The mafia. White House officials. Congresscritters. Defense contractors. The House Majority Leader. And Lord only knows what Fitzgerald's up to. This really could be worse than Watergate. (Yeah, it could also all come down to nothing, but it's tough to imagine how the Reeps can possibly come out of this clean.)

F@ck, man.

Yeah, I'm cynical.
by catastrophile on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 01:28:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Rabbit Holes (none / 0)

It all catches up with you some day.

Everyone from Trent Lott to Newt Gingrich to Nancy Reagan (and that's just the conservatives) might have a knife out for Tom, Dick, and Georgey. Just as Nixon isolated himself and triggered his own downfall...so are we seeing finally the bad karma catch up to Dubya.

by risenmessiah on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 01:34:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Rabbit Holes (none / 0)

Now if we can just tie George Allen into all this, we could kill off the truly bad and winnable candidates of the Republican Party.  
by yitbos96bb on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 11:25:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Rabbit Holes (none / 0)

I think the easiest way to do that is to avoid any mention of corruption and simply remind people that Allen was a sports hero at UVA. Drop him off near some drunk Hokie fans and watch the sparks fly.
by risenmessiah on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 02:08:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Until their base gets the point (none / 0)

I'm not sure picking off the majority leader really matters.

I'm so damned scared that we have hit the point that Americans just don't give a fuck, and will vote GOP anyhow because the average voter is too ignorant to do any better.

I still can't get over a few of those races the GOP won last year, like the OK and KY Sen races.  

I honestly cannot bring myself to believe this nation isn't being driven by the dumbest and cruelest people around, and that the majority of Americans -- even a slim majority -- just plain like that.

by jcjcjc on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 02:07:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Every Reep in the House (none / 0)

has helped keep DeLay in power. Most of them have been supportive of him. Many have been beneficiaries of the now-indicted ARMPAC fund.

Granted, it remains to be seen whether the Dems will capitalize on it, but this is a gift.

Yeah, I'm cynical.
by catastrophile on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 02:38:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I try to keep faith (3.00 / 1)

And yet I ponder whether I should buy ammunition before the dollar completely tanks.
by jcjcjc on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 09:52:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Not to mention (none / 0)

the TX Reeps who owe their jobs to the gerrymandering conspiracy.
Yeah, I'm cynical.
by catastrophile on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 03:36:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I'll believe it when I see it (none / 0)

I agree.  Best to be optimistic, but after many of us were expecting a Rove indictment that has yet to appear, I want to see the indictments announced. If they are, the chances to win his district just shot through the roof.  
by yitbos96bb on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 11:24:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

In the words of Jim Morrison.This is the end (none / 0)

The recent turn of events reminds me of the ending to the movie "Casino", when the feds closed the casino down, and began arresting all of the major players. I hope this blows up, so that the media has no choice, but to show it.
by indydem72 on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 02:29:20 AM EST

Aww, man. (none / 0)

I wanted it to be more like the scene at the end of The Godfather where Michael kills everyobody!
by craverguy on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 03:03:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Aww, man. (none / 0)

Rofl.

Take that Moe Greene!

John McCain wants to stay in Iraq for a century.
by jkfp2004 on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 09:20:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Aww, man. (none / 0)

Yeah, It would be fun to see Howard Dean walk into Bush's office and say "George, you have to answer for Al Gore.  Did Dick really fool you into thinking that we wouldn't figure out that little trick you played with your brother in Florida?"
by yitbos96bb on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 11:27:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Aww, man. (none / 0)

See? When you shut off your cable TV you don't miss a thing. We can, as a country, hallucinate like this for years after the cutoff point.

I can see every image.. hey! watch this
(cuts orange peel) MMMrrr!! I'm a monster
...

run! arrgh!!

by turnerbroadcasting on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 12:20:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Aww, man. (none / 0)

The Baptism Scene... One of my favorites of all time... Maybe we can re-enact the Fredo scene at the end of Part II with Zell Miller.  Have Howard Dean grab him at a press conference and give him the Kiss of death... "I know it was you Zell... You broke my heart."
by yitbos96bb on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 11:29:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Aww, man. (none / 0)

I much prefer, for Zell the scene in which Zell should come in to Dean's office, and wish
that he may have a male child. Lets hand Zell his hat  - he is such a small person in both parties now. He's like Lucabraza - just another handyman - anyone want a speech about safety after 911?
by turnerbroadcasting on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 12:22:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Aww, man. (none / 0)

Actually, the horse head scene may be more fun for Zell.  I can see him with some fuzzy pink mask waking up in bed with a baby Elephant head under the covers.  
by yitbos96bb on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 01:16:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

What Will They Say This Time? (none / 0)

Will they try and tell us that the grand jury is unpatriotic to do this when we're at war? Or will they rely on that old standby...it's just those lousy Democrats and their partisan political tricks. And will Rove help his pal by getting the MSM to push the story to the back pages by having the Bush-puppet announce his next Supreme Court nominee? Let's watch and see.
Memo to neocons: I respect your right to have an opinion, but I just don't want to hear it anymore.
by blogus on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 05:12:51 AM EST

There's hope I suppose that the (none / 0)

law applies to these thugs, but back in Nixon's day there was still a belief in what is right and what is wrong among congressional leaders when pushed by a strong freedom of the press. Seems to me right and wrong isn't so clear anymore. Well, as Byrd says, the worm turns. Let's hope for our children's sake that it happens in our lifetime.
Directing thegrassrootsmovie.com
by HE on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 09:51:46 AM EST

Who will replace him as Leader, Roy Blunt? (none / 0)

Will the current Majority Whip automatically replace Delay or will there be a vote for the next leader?

Aroused News

by ArousedNewsJulienDavid on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 11:38:29 AM EST

Delay Indicted on 1 Count of Conspiracy, plus 3 as (none / 0)

AP - Reporting that Tom Delay is indicted on 1 count of criminal conspiracy - Breaking Story.

Aroused News

by ArousedNewsJulienDavid on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 12:38:32 PM EST

Happy Happy Joy Joy (none / 0)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050928/ap_on_go_co/delay_investigation

Here is the yahoo link.

HAPPY DAYS!!!  This should make the race in his District interesting.  

by yitbos96bb on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 01:10:25 PM EST

Too Bad... (none / 0)

Too bad if he goes to prison, it will probably be a minimum security.  I'd like to see Tom thrown into Maximum Security.  I would bet he would be someone's bitch by the end of the first day.  
by yitbos96bb on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 01:14:39 PM EST

It doesn't mean anything (none / 0)

This doesn't mean anything at this point.  What I mean, is that Dems can't take advantage of this indictment unless they come up with a cohesive message, and so far that haven't in the last two election losses, and by compromising with Republicans on everything such as the Roberts nomination.  I mean 5 or 9 should be enough to vote for Roberts, not more than this, otherwise it seems that they are compromising their principles, to score political points.  So far it hasn't worked for them.  They compromised on the Iraq war, it didn't work.  Pryor, Landrieu, and Byrd were going to be targeted anyway, even if the Roberts nomination didn't happen.  So, makes them believe that voting for Roberts is going to change this.
by mleflo2 on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 11:31:51 PM EST


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