EARLE EMPTY-HANDED IN DELAY CASE (Is this true?????)

[BigBearJohn]

The case in Texas against House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, prosecuted by Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle on money laundering and conspiracy charges, proceeds at its own pace. According to a Houston Chronicle story, however, a key piece of evidence, however, has now turned up missing.

The indictments against DeLay and two fundraisers allege the presence of "a document that contained the names of several candidates for the Texas House." This is allegedly the proof that DeLay was part of a scheme to swap $190,000 in restricted corporate money, in exchange for the same amount of money, donated by individuals, that could be legally used by Texas candidates. But Earle's prosecution team now admit they now only have a "similar" list and not the one allegedly given to the Republican National Committee. Meanwhile, Dick DeGuerin, DeLay's lawyer, leaped to the attack, reportedly telling the Chronicle the lack of a list "destroys" Earle's case against the three men.

The story says that prosecutor Earle has a history for this sort of thing, having engaged in similar tactics in 1993. At that time, he twice indicted Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison for misuse of campaign funds, only to have the case dismissed both times. When he indicted a third time, the case went to trial, but he showed with no evidence and had to dismiss all charges. - ST

http://www.freemarketnews.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=1393

[blitzen]

1. call that source "Freep-market news"! n/t

[unblock]

2. let's just say that all this spin is coming from delay's lawyers

[PDittie]

3. Old and inconsequential news.

So there's no 'list'? Duh.

Meyer Lansky ran the numbers in his head, too.

[goodboy]

4. Inconsequential. The Grand Jury has already seen the evidence

[BigBearJohn]

5. Thank GOD.... this had me really scared.

[Straight Shooter]

7. Awwww, poor baby. Come to DU, we'll make you feel better.

:hug:

[BigBearJohn]

15. No need to be sarcastic. I've been here a long time too you know

[Straight Shooter]

16. A hug is a positive thing.

And I'm being sarcastic?

Chill.

[BigBearJohn]

19. Oh. Sorry. I misunderstood.

:toast:

[Straight Shooter]

20. Not a problem. And I didn't mean to get snarky in my second response.

Now can I give you a hug? :hug:

[BigBearJohn]

22. I'll take TWO!

[Straight Shooter]

23. Heh.

That's a lot of huggin', but it's turned out to be a chilly night in Oregon. :hug: :hug:

[SammyWinstonJack]

24. Not worry, we all get sensitive at times. So much at stake and so

much propaganda from the repukes, it's hard not too be sensitive.

[KharmaTrain]

21. Bingo...Earle Didn't Indict The Grand Jury Did

Now if this was flawed or fraudulent evidence, DeGurrin should have walked into court today and asked for all charges to be dismissed. If this "key piece" was so germaine to the case, isn't it the lawyers responsibility to ask for an immediate dismissal?

Earle's no fool...he expected any indictment would become this political circus. This dude didn't convince just one, but two seperate grand juries to indict this slimeball. Let 'em spin...we'll see you in court...and with some pissed off judges, too.

[Canuckistanian]

6. How the hell does evidence disappear AFTER an indictment?

If this is true, Earle will be crucified a la Dan Rather.
He's smarter than that.

[MisterP]

8. you don't know what FMN can do with oil, whips, and Rand's "Anthem"

[NoPasaran]

9. This is propaganda

Pay it no mind.

[Canuckistanian]

10. Whew! Disregard previous post

I have a premature postulation problem sometimes.

[blitzen]

11. "The Truth about Ronnie Earle" (from thinkprogress.org)

http://thinkprogress.org/2005/09/28/truth-ronnie-earle/

EARLE HAS REPUTATION AS PRINCIPLED, ‘OVERLY CAUTIOUS’: “Deliberate in the capital cases he sends to juries, Earle is well known for examining an issue from all angles before acting. ‘If I have any complaint about Ronnie, it’s that he is overly cautious about who he prosecutes,’ says Marston. ‘The fact that it has taken two years to investigate Tom DeLay is a sign not of partisanship, but of being completely careful.’”

EARLE HAS REPUTATION FOR ‘STRONG MORAL STREAK’: “o those who know him, Earle has always exhibited a strong moral streak - from his formative years growing up in a small town outside Fort Worth, to his time on the Austin night court, to his political service in the state legislature. But they contend his morality is tempered by his compassion. ‘Ronnie is very principled and will do the right thing even if it isn’t the smartest political thing to do,’ says Ellen Halbert, a victim’s rights advocate.”

EARLE HAS REPUTATION FOR RESPECTING THE RULES: “‘One of the things I admired most about Ronnie was his indefatigable ability to go and meet with groups all over town all the time–right-wing groups, left-wing groups, the Rotary,’ says Bill Reid, an attorney who retired from Earle’s office in 1997. ‘He’s not a bloodthirsty prosecutor who wanted to get notches on his gun. There are some who have a reputation for walking close to the line in terms of evidence and rights, but there was never a push or inclination from him that we ought to bend the rules. Working for him, I was doing what I wanted to do, and I could go home and sleep at night.’”

HOUSTON CHRONICLE: ALLEGATIONS OF PARTISANSHIP NOT SUPPORTED BY FACTS: Chronicle editorial: “The record does not support allegations that Earle is prone to partisan witch hunts.” <3/17/03>

[aquart]

12. Desperate idiocy.

[jobycom]

13. Not a word of it, or at least, not what they want you to believe

It's careful fiction writing. Earle may or may not have an original list of "the names of several candidates"-- I don't know. But he doesn't need it, any more than a prosecutor in a murder case would need an exact copy of an insurance policy to prove the murderer was the beneificiary.

The proof that the article knows it is lying is in the summary of the Hutchison trial. I don't know if Earle had to indict her three times--I remember the case, but I never heard that. But Earle had boxloads of evidence. He went to court with the evidence, and was waylaid by the judge. The judge refused to rule before the trial began on whether he would allow the evidence--including audio tapes of Hutchison basically admitting her guilt and boxloads of evidence taken from her offices. Earle refused to procede with the case, expecting the judge to simply declare a mistrial, so he could try the case again when he was sure whether the evidence would be allowed. Instead, the judge ordered the jury to rule in favor of Hutchison, thus ending the trial in a way that prevented the charges from being refiled.

Earle had tons of evidence. The article lies. As I'm sure it does with DeLay's case.

[xray s]

14. Just went to the Chronicle's website

no such story posted there

[bunny planet]

17. One word for you.

Abramoff.
I've heard that Earle has a very good case built up against Bugboy. While he's dealing with that case however, the shitstorm is right around the corner with Abramoff dealings that will spell a world of trouble for Hot Tub Tom.

[jjmalonejr]

18. Delay's lawyers are trying to poison the jury pool

Look at the freakin' ads he's running and political phone calls he's making.

Can you imagine if OJ Simpson's lawyers ran TV ads savaging Marcia Clarke, extolling OJ's virtues and insisiting on his innocence?