DeLay defense opens with a misstep over evidence

[kpete]

Source: Houston Chronicle

DeLay defense opens with a misstep over evidence
By R.G. RATCLIFFE
Austin Bureau


AUSTIN — Tom DeLay's own evidence turned against him Wednesday as a calendar showed the former U.S. House Majority leader in a meeting with a key political aide two hours after the man received the check used in an alleged $190,000 political money laundering scheme.

DeLay, R-Sugar Land, contends he did not learn of a corporate money swap between his Texans for a Republican Majority and the Republican National Committee until political aide Jim Ellis told him of it on Oct. 2, 2002.

In a statement to Travis County prosecutors in 2002, however, DeLay said Ellis told him about the money swap before it happened. DeLay now insists he misspoke.

Defense lawyer Dick DeGuerin introduced DeLay's calendars on the idea that they would show no meetings between DeLay and Ellis during the crucial days of September when the money exchange was arranged, to bolster DeLay's Oct. 2 claim.



Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7299964.html

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More:
DeLay Begins His Defense With A Big Mistake
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/11/delay_begins_his_defense_with_a_big_mistake.php#more

Tom DeLay’s Defense Proving Prosecutor’s Case
The defense has argued repeatedly that DeLay was not involved in the PAC’s day-to-day operations and, as such, did not know about the swap until after the fact.

But yesterday, DeLay’s lawyer seemed to prove otherwise. According to the Houston Chronicle, his lawyer introduced scheduling calendars in an attempt to show that DeLay only had meetings with the PAC’s director, Jim Ellis, weeks after the swap happened.

But he missed something: DeLay and Ellis attended the same meeting just hours after Ellis had taken out a blank check from the PAC to give to the RNC for the swap. Prosecutors, however, pointed that out.
http://www.oliverwillis.com/2010/11/18/tom-delays-defense-proving-prosecutors-case/

[Loki]

1. When I moved to Texas over 12 years ago

all I wanted was to see Tom Delay no longer representing this state in the House. Got that. Now before I leave, I want to see him in jail. Two out of three ain't bad.

[aquart]

2. Yes. Jail.

[northoftheborder]

3. That slimy snake needs to see bars in front of his face.

[NV Whino]

4. Do I see bars in ol' Tom's future?

One can hope.

[rocktivity]

5. He's certainly staying within character.

He succeeded in having a judge removed from his case for being a Dem donor--and the prosecution succeeded in having the replacement judge removed for being a Repub donor. And don't forget his attempt to launch a defense fund with the help of Steve Colbert.

Stay clueless, Tom--yum!

:9
rocktivity

[msanthrope]

6. Irony of ironies--Texas is just about the last state where 'inadequate counsel'

is a viable appeal point....

[gratuitous]

9. I understand DeGuerin is counsel of choice for anyone in trouble

I hope he's charging Hot Tub Tom his top rate. But wasn't it helpful of the prosecution to notice what DeLay had missed - the meeting with Ellis? I hope there's other things DeLay has overlooked, and he's on his way to the pokey.

[msanthrope]

11. I suspect Delay is as troublesome and stupid a client as Robert Durst.....

Bugmans going to jail..

[Geoff R. Casavant]

10. But the bar is set very high.

I recall we had a case a while back where the attorney fell asleep during the trial, and even that didn't rise to the right level of inadequacy.

[WhiteTara]

7. what a great opening move

I wonder if they want to see the bastard in prison as much as the rest of us.

[Solly Mack]

8. k/r

[Frustratedlady]

12. Has any of this been televised? That's one guy I'd like to see squirm. eom

[Nothing Without Hope]

13. The attorney certainly should have checked those records

before submitting them as evidence. I do wonder if DeLay lied even to his attorney. Even so, the lawyer should have checked.

Yes, let's hope the Bugman gets to be up close and personal with cockroaches in a jail cell. What a slime.

[rocktivity]

14. "Hello, Tru TV? I've got a great idea for a new show

The World's Dumbest LAWYERS!"

:rofl:
rocktivity