Texas PAC sent blank check to Washington.

[DenverDem]

Check is part of criminal investigation into whether corporate money was illegally used in the 2002 state legislative elections.

By Laylan Copelin

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Wednesday, February 25, 2004

When Jim Ellis, a key aide to U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, was preparing to deliver money to an arm of the Republican National Committee, a DeLay ally in Texas had a blank check sent to Ellis with the amount to be filled in later.

John Colyandro, executive director of DeLay's Texans for a Republican Majority, said in a deposition that he had the blank check sent because Ellis had a meeting with Republican National Committee officials scheduled the next day.

(more)
<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/auto/epaper/editions/wednesday/news_04c3657f145a22821081.html>

[Judi Lynn]

1. Isn't this terrific? Here are two more new articles on this subject

Thanks for posting this thread. It would be so great for Democrats' morale to see these bustards finally caught doing their nasty business, and forced to accept the consequences.

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

Posted on Wed, Feb. 25, 2004

Blank check raises questions in Texas GOP fund raising

Associated Press


AUSTIN - A statement made by an ally of U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay is raising questions about some Republican National Committee contributions to seven Texas House candidates whose fund raising is part of a state criminal investigation.

The contributions totaling $190,000 were sent two weeks after Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee contributed $190,000 to an arm of the national Republican group. The money given to the Texas PAC was donated by corporations, which are prohibited by state law from donating directly to candidates.

Officials with the Texas PAC and the Republican National Committee have repeatedly called the identical amounts a coincidence.
(snip)

The Travis County District Attorney's Office is investigating whether the Republican organizations were laundering corporate donations. It is part of a broader probe into whether Republican officials and their business allies illegally donated corporate money to state House candidates to affect the outcome of the 2002 elections.
(snip/...)

http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/state/8039575.htm

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Files sought involving Perry aide

Grand jury subpoenas also seek records linked to DeLay's daughter


11:25 PM CST on Wednesday, February 25, 2004


By CHRISTY HOPPE and GEORGE KUEMPEL / The Dallas Morning News



AUSTIN – Campaign records involving Gov. Rick Perry's chief of staff and the daughter of Rep. Tom DeLay have been subpoenaed by a Travis County grand jury looking into funding of key 2002 GOP House races.

Private investigators, political consultants, private clubs, restaurants and printers that did business with Texans for a Republican Majority (TRMPAC) and its agents are the targets in the latest flurry of subpoenas released Wednesday.

The grand jury is investigating whether the political action committee, set up by Mr. DeLay, the U.S. House majority leader, illegally used corporate donations to help the campaigns of more than a dozen Republican candidates for the Texas House.

It is a felony in Texas to use corporate or union donations to help an individual candidate. Those donations can be raised but can be applied only to the administrative costs of running a political action committee.

Victories in 15 of the 20 House races targeted by TRMPAC gave Republicans control of the House for the first time in more than 130 years and helped secure the election of Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland, as speaker.
(snip/...)

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/022604dntexsubpoenas.120c6.html
(quick, free registration required here)

[Judi Lynn]

2. News from the Houston Chronicle

(snip) Feb. 25, 2004, 10:09PM

Subpoenas aim to find DeLay role with PAC
Lawmaker's daughter included on long list of committee workers
By JANET ELLIOTT and R.G. RATCLIFFE
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

Source: Associated Press


AUSTIN -- A slew of subpoenas released Wednesday show Travis Country prosecutors are trying to determine how deeply involved U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay was in the possible criminal misuse of corporate funds in the 2002 legislative campaign.
(snip)

The subpoenas seek testimony and documents from the committee's researchers, political consultants and fund-raisers, including DeLay's daughter, Danielle Ferro.
(snip)

Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle is investigating whether TRMPAC violated state law in using corporate funds to help 21 Republicans win Texas House seats in 2002, giving the GOP a House majority for the first time since Reconstruction.

DeLay, speaking to reporters in Washington this week, lashed out at Earle, who he said was trying to "criminalize politics."
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2420890

[lindashaw]

3. I just got up. This is going to be a good day!! hehe

[htuttle]

4. A blank check, a shoebox full of cash, a wink and a nod...

Hey, the Republicans are just doing bidniz!

Thieves and liars -- every last one of them. And the ones who aren't, aspire to be.