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

The Truth About Ronnie Earle
You'll hear plenty from DeLay et al. about Ronnie Earle. Here are the
facts:

EARLE HAS PROSECUTED FOUR TIMES AS MANY DEMOCRATS AS REPUBLICANS:
"Over Earle's 27-year tenure, his Public Integrity Unit has prosecuted
15 elected officials, including 12 Democrats." [Los Angeles Times,
5/15/05]

EARLE PROSECUTED DEMOCRATS AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF STATE GOVERNMENT:
"Some of the Democrats prosecuted by Earle and his Public Integrity
Unit are former Texas House Speaker Gib Lewis, former Texas Attorney
General Jim Mattox, former State Treasurer Warren Harding and former
Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Yarbrough." [AP, 12/12/04]

EARLE AIDES WENT ON TO RUN FOR OFFICE AS REPUBLICANS: "Some of his top
assistants have been with him for decades. A few have gone on to run
for elected office as Republicans." [Los Angeles Times, 5/15/05]

FRIEND OF OFFICIAL TARGETED BY EARLE CALLED HIM A 'BOY SCOUT':
"Democrats, for their part, are still upset over the prosecution of
Attorney General Jim Mattox for bribery in 1985. . He was acquitted
and years later, Jim Marston, a civil lawyer in Austin and friend of
Mr. Mattox, asked Earle why he went ahead with the questionable case.
"I said, 'Ronnie, how can it be an abuse of power to threaten a
lawyer? We threaten each other all the time.' He told me that elected
officials are held to a higher standard. They are supposed to be
[above suspicion] like Caesar's wife.' It was then that Mr. Marston
realized how deep Earle's principles run. 'Ronnie Earle is a Boy Scout
who is offended by wrongdoings, chief among them, public officials'
abuse of power.' [Christian Science Monitor, 12/03/04]

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.'" [Christian Science Monitor, 12/03/04]

EARLE HAS REPUTATION FOR 'STRONG MORAL STREAK': "[T]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." [Christian Science Monitor,
12/03/04]

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.'" [Los Angeles Times, 5/15/05]

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]

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

The Truth About Ronnie Earle
Youll hear plenty from DeLay et al. about Ronnie Earle. Here are the
facts:

EARLE HAS PROSECUTED FOUR TIMES AS MANY DEMOCRATS AS REPUBLICANS:
Over Earles 27-year tenure, his Public Integrity Unit has prosecuted
15 elected officials, including 12 Democrats. [Los Angeles Times,
5/15/05]