Texas: 2002 campaign meetings raise question of illegal coordination

[Dover]

2002 campaign meetings raise question of illegal coordination
TAB met with PAC, lobbyist to discuss campaigns


By Laylan Copelin

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Friday, February 20, 2004

The Texas Association of Business and Texans for a Republican Majority had much in common even before a grand jury began investigating allegations that both groups illegally spent corporate money in 2002 legislative campaigns.

Both groups spent unprecedented amounts of corporate money in election activities. Both targeted the same two dozen legislative seats that were crucial to the Republican takeover of the Legislature.

And in the weeks leading to the November elections, leaders of both groups met with lobbyist Mike Toomey -- now Gov. Rick Perry's chief of staff -- to discuss the business association's ad campaign that was financed with corporate money. The identities of the donors have been kept secret.

It's neither unusual nor illegal for political professionals to exchange information, plot strategy or even coordinate their activities to elect a slate of candidates. When corporate money becomes involved, however, the fine line between cooperation and coordination becomes the boundary between legal political activity and a felony.

"Coordination is just a fancy word for conspiracy," explained Travis District Attorney Ronnie Earle.

"Communication is not coordination," retorted Andy Taylor, the lawyer for the business association.

John Colyandro, executive director of Texans for a Republican Majority, on Thursday confirmed the meetings with Bill Hammond, president of the Texas Association of Business; Chuck McDonald, a public relations executive who designed ads for Hammond; and Toomey. He said he met with political professionals all the time and could not recall what was discussed....cont'd

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/auto/epaper/editions/friday/news_0453fb2d656c60340030.html

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Craddick Subpoened

A Travis County grand jury investigation is reaching into the highest levels of state government.

One of the highest ranking state lawmakers at the Capitol must turn over records detailing how he won his post. Some say using illegal campaign funds.

Some call the investigation a political witch hunt against Speaker Tom Craddick and several other Republican state lawmakers.

Others say this case shows just how corrupt Texas politics is becoming.

Craddick has been subpoenaed by a Travis County grand jury as part of an investigation into illegal political fundraising by the political action committee for Texans for a Republican Majority or TRIM-PAC.

"He is going to provide them with all of his pledge cards, and any other paperwork in connection with his race for speaker," Craddick's attorney Roy Minton said.

Campaign finance watchdogs accuse Craddick of helping funnel more than $150,000 from TRIM-PAC to Republican house candidates in 2002 -- a possible violation of state ethics law.

"What in the world is Tom Craddick doing distributing PAC money from an independent political action committee? And that problem gets worse when you ask that question, when you realize that that committee was involved in raising illegal money," Craig McDonald with Texans for Public Justice said.

TRIM-PAC and the Texas Association of Business have been under investigation for illegal fundraising since last year.

"Totally illegal in Texas to take corporate treasury money and help political candidates. TRIM-PAC kept that money off the books," McDonald said.

Now Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle is expanding the investigation to include Craddick and six other Republican house members including Round Rock State Rep. Mike Krusee.

Earle issuing this statement saying "Possible criminal conduct in connection with the race for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives was uncovered."....cont'd

http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=1657403&nav=0s3dKylJ

_____________________


Craddick ordered to give records to district attorney

Criminal investigation of Republican, business groups expanded to include the race for House speaker

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Friday, February 20, 2004

Tom Craddick and six of his top lieutenants were ordered Thursday to give records from the 2002 race for Texas House speaker to Travis County prosecutors, who confirmed that they have expanded a criminal investigation related to the historic elections that helped produce the state's first Republican speaker in modern times.

"We intend to fully comply with the summons and cooperate with the DA's office," Craddick said in a written statement. "I am happy to have helped elect a Republican majority -- as I have tried to do since I was first elected to the House in 1968."

Subpoenas for documents also were issued to Republican state Reps. Kent Grusendorf of Arlington, Beverly Woolley of Houston, Dianne White Delisi of Temple, Phil King of Weatherford, Arlene Wohlgemuth of Burleson and Mike Krusee of Round Rock.

Krusee didn't immediately return a telephone call for comment.

Craddick has hired veteran Austin lawyer Roy Minton.

"There was a summons issued for him to come up with the pledge cards he received and other documents, and he will cooperate completely and comply with the district attorney's office," Minton told The Associated Press.

The subpoenas come after reports that Craddick helped Texans for a Republican Majority raise and deliver campaign funds to Republican candidates who went on to vote for him as speaker. A spokesman for Craddick said the money was distributed after Craddick had already secured most of his Republican votes.

A state law bars outside groups from trying to influence the internal House election, either directly or indirectly. It also is illegal for a speaker candidate to knowingly accept a group's help.

....cont'd

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/auto/epaper/editions/friday/news_0453fbed656cc1a500c0.html

[truthisfreedom]

1. heeheehee

keep the pressure on these dipsticks.

[Newsjock]

2. What pressure?

Assume that what they did is ultimately ruled illegal? The penalty: Money. Maybe even a lot of money. But that won't matter. The election will not be invalidated.

They know it works that way, just like how Arnold openly violated campaign law in California. He gets the penalty of a few million bucks, and laughs his way back to the governor's mansion.

[asjr]

5. You are so correct

and if that investigation goes the same as the ones supposedly going on in Washington now it will never come to fruition.

[hang a left]

10. If someone is convicted of a felony, do they still remain

in office?

[barbaraann]

3. There is no rightwing criminal conspiracy. There is a rightwing

criminal CULTURE. There isn't even a shred of honesty or decency in the GOP any more--it's totally rotten to the core.

The problem is that our justice system can deal with criminal acts and crimnal conspiracies, but not with an entire culture of criminality and corruption.

[Tank in Texas]

6. Hate to Agree with an Absolute Like That...

... but I think it falls under "sad but true." Just another part of the national problem with campaign finance and Big Corporate pushing aside the rights of the people. How will we get ourselves out of this mess?

Who can we run for Governor next gubernatorial election?

[proud patriot]

4. wheeeeeeeeeeeeee !

Man these are some corrupt republicans ,
they got enough rope to hang themselves .

[Judi Lynn]

7. Trying to find more on Roy Minton, I found another article on your topic

NEW: Authorities ask for documents from Craddick's speaker campaign

By W. Gardner Selby
Express-News Austin Bureau

Web Posted : 02/19/2004 5:58 PM

AUSTIN — Authorities today asked for documents stemming from Rep. Tom Craddick's successful bid to become speaker of the Texas House last year, and Craddick said he would comply.

The request evidently came from a Travis County grand jury probing whether millions of dollars in corporate funds were illegally spent to boost GOP legislative candidates in the 2002 elections, which gave Republicans a long-sought House majority.
(snip)

A spokesman, saying Craddick was in Midland, referred questions to Austin lawyer Roy Minton, who said he became Craddick's attorney in the matter earlier this week.

Minton spoke directly to a document that surfaced this week showing that less than three weeks before the November 2002 elections, a pro-Republican committee created by U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, ferried checks totalling $152,000 to Craddick for his subsequent delivery to 14 GOP candidates for Texas House seats.
(snip/...)

http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xlc=1131333

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With any luck, this could get very interesting!

[jamesinca]

8. Yep that is how it is done

There are no do overs, or time outs. They get to keep their positions, their votes still count. They are fined and they keep their job. Arnold did it here in CA, so did Daryl Issa with his $1.6 million contribution of personal funds.

[Dover]

9. The GOP's arrogance and blatant disregard for our laws is an outrage!

When is this crime family going to be rounded up and locked away? Who has the balls to do it? I doubt it will be Kerry or the DLCers...