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September 09, 2005

TRMPAC and TAB Indicted for Election Shenanigans

By Damon McCullar

The AAS reports this morning that Texans for a Republican Majority PAC and the Texas Association of Buisnesses PAC have both been indicted on 128 counts.

Previously only Jim Ellis, a former Tom DeLay staffer, and current head of Americans for a Republican Majority (Tom DeLay's PAC) and John Colyandro, executive director of Texas for a Republican Majority PAC and been indicted for election wrong-doing.

Statements on the Indictments:

Rep. Tom DeLay:

"Today's announcement is limited to a political organization and does not affect Mr. DeLay. Last month, Mr. DeLay voluntarily talked to the Travis County District Attorney's office about their two-year inquiry into campaign fundraising. Mr. DeLay explained to officials what he has always said publicly: his role with respect to TRMPAC was limited to serving on the political action committee's advisory board along with other elected Texas officials and to appearing at fundraising events. Mr. DeLay assured the district attorney's office that he was not involved in the day to day operations of TRMPAC and to his knowledge all activities were properly reviewed and approved by lawyers for the PAC."

- Kevin Madden, spokesman for House Majority Leader Tom DeLay

Chris Bell

"Today’s indictments increase the pressure on Congress to fully investigate my original complaint against Tom DeLay and his illegal campaign finance schemes. If the actions of Tom DeLay’s political machine are deserving of a criminal indictment, then he is certainly deserving of a full investigation by the House Ethics Committee. It will be an embarrassment if DeLay’s colleagues in Congress fail to move ahead with an investigation in light of today’s criminal indictment."

TAB:

"The indictments completely ignore the First Amendment that, according to the United States Supreme Court, gives individuals and their businesses the absolute right to inform the public of the conduct of our elected officials and the conduct of candidates for public office including their public statements and their voting record. At no time did the Texas Association of Business endorse any candidate, make any political contribution or campaign expenditure. The conduct of the Texas Association of Business was limited to its absolute right to inform the public, and in every case their conduct was reviewed and approved by an election lawyer with thirty years of experience in the field. It is my firm belief that the Courts will confirm that the conduct of the Association was legal and consistent with the First Amendment rights of every citizen.

Posted by Damon McCullar at September 9, 2005 10:29 AM | TrackBack

Comments

You overlooked the most important and possibly telling little slip-of-the-tongue which probably wasn't a slip-of-the-tongue:

"But Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle hinted that he might have indicted DeLay if the congressional leader had fallen under his jurisdiction. Because DeLay lives in Sugar Land, jurisdiction under Texas election law would fall to Fort Bend County District Attorney John Healey Jr."

""One problem we have, as you know, is with certain individuals (and) has to do with jurisdiction," Earle said."

"Earle declined to say whether he had referred any information to Healey. Healey was not available for comment."

I give Tom DeLay a 50-50 chance of surviving this. Ronnie Earle has gone from not investigating Tom DeLay a year ago to "might have indicted" him a year later.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3346049

By the way, Ronnie Earle is a Democrat. And has indicted far more Democrats than Republicans. Which means that the Republicans are more careful than the Democrats.

We need to limit the amount of these corporate campaign contributions that are made through a variety of funding loopholes. Preferably ban them altogether. Maybe if Tom DeLay is indicted and convicted, Congress will finally wake up and realize that the public interest, which they were elected to represent, is not being represented.

Posted by: Baby Snooks at September 9, 2005 02:26 PM

OMG!

Baby Snooks passed up an opportunity to bash Chris Bell...is this one of the signs of the Apocalypse?

I'm just ribbin' ya BS...don't take it personally.

Posted by: Damon C at September 9, 2005 02:39 PM

I think Bell is yesterday's news as they say. And I've tossed the newspaper.

As for tomorrow's news, maybe Ronnie Earle should run for governor. When you talk about someone who really has taken on Tom DeLay, you should talk about Ronnie Earle. Proof is in the indictments. More to follow no doubt.

Posted by: Baby Snooks at September 9, 2005 02:56 PM
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