Subject: [Homestead] DeLay is a foully-corrupt, vicious extortionist
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2004 10:36:41 -0700
With a lot of foully-corrupt GOP Congressmen helping him avoid the
indictment visited on 32 of his helpers.
Grand Jury Indictments Involve PAC That House Republican Leader Helped
Create
*By April Castro* Associated Press Writer
Published: Sep 22, 2004
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A grand jury has handed up 32 indictments for an
alleged a scheme to make illegal campaign contributions through a
political action committee associated with House Republican leader Tom
DeLay.
DeLay, who was not charged, accused the prosecutor of using the
investigation for political purposes.
"This has been a dragged out 500-day investigation and you do the
political math. This is no different than other kinds of partisan
attacks that have been leveled against me that are dropped after
elections," he said.
A Travis County grand jury on Tuesday indicted three political
operatives and eight companies, alleging campaign finance violations
related to corporate money spent in the 2002 legislative races. The
corporate donations were made to Texans for a Republican Majority, a
political action committee created with help from DeLay.
DeLay was not questioned or subpoenaed as part of the grand jury
investigation.
"Democracy depends on equality and equality cannot exist in an
atmosphere that's like what the law of the jungle is like, the biggest,
richest and meanest get to be in charge," said Travis County District
Attorney Ronnie Earle, a Democrat.
The grand jury investigation began shortly after Republicans gained a
majority in the Texas House for the first time since Reconstruction. The
GOP later used its majority to redraw Texas' congressional districts to
favor Republican candidates.
Texas law prohibits the use of corporate money for political activity.
Jim Ellis, 47, a former DeLay aide who heads Americans for a Republican
Majority, DeLay's national fund-raising committee, was charged with
money laundering. John Colyandro, 40, former executive director of
Texans for a Republican Majority, faces charges including money
laundering and unlawful acceptance of corporate political contributions.
Warren RoBold, 48, a Washington consultant who helped raise money for
both PACs, was indicted for unlawful acceptance of corporate political
contributions.
The eight companies were charged with making illegal political
contributions. They include Sears, Roebuck and Co., the Cracker Barrel
restaurant chain, Bacardi USA and Westar Energy. Each company donated at
least $20,000.
Colyandro and Ellis did not immediately return telephone calls Tuesday
for comment. The Associated Press could not immediately locate RoBold.
Sears spokesman Chris Brathwaite said the company was "surprised by the
indictment because Sears' contribution to this PAC followed all
applicable state and federal laws."
Also Tuesday, DeLay, the second-ranking House member, dismissed as
frivolous a complaint filed with the House ethics committee that alleges
he abused his office for political purposes.
Leaders of the House ethics committee said they soon plan to present to
committee members information they've obtained on a three-part complaint
filed by Rep. Chris Bell, D-Texas.
The 10-member committee, equally divided by party, could send the
allegations to an investigative subcommittee, dismiss some allegations
while ordering a probe of others or throw out the complaint.
"I think people see this for what it is, at least that's what I've
seen," DeLay said.
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[Homestead] DeLay is a foully-corrupt, vicious extortionist,
Tvoivozhd, 09/22/2004