| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"Harry Hope" |
| Date: |
06 Apr 2006 09:00:18 AM |
| Object: |
Why did Insect DeLay resign? He's got BIIIIIG problems. |
From Mercury News, 4/4/06:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/14262634.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
Signs point to federal investigators zeroing in on DeLay
BY RON HUTCHESON
Knight Ridder Newspapers
WASHINGTON -
Rep. Tom DeLay's decision to leave Congress ends his political
problems, but his legal woes may be far from over.
The former House majority leader announced his resignation three days
after court documents revealed that federal investigators have
uncovered evidence of corruption in his leadership office.
Tony Rudy, former deputy chief of staff to the powerful Republican
congressman from Texas, admitted in a plea agreement that he sold his
influence to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff while he was working for
DeLay.
Rudy became the second former DeLay aide who's agreed to cooperate
with federal investigators in return for a more lenient sentence.
"Any rational person in his (DeLay's) position would be very
concerned," said Kendall Coffey, a former federal prosecutor who's now
a prominent defense lawyer in Miami.
"Whether it's working up the ladder at Enron or a drug organization,
it's classic strategy to work up by getting plea agreements and
cooperation at each level."
DeLay, who's under indictment in Texas in a separate case involving
his handling of campaign contributions, hasn't been accused of any
wrongdoing in the Abramoff influence-peddling scandal.
The congressman says he was unaware of any illegal activity by Rudy or
his former press secretary Michael Scanlon.
Scanlon and Abramoff also are cooperating with prosecutors as part of
a plea bargain.
DeLay said his decision to step down had nothing to do with Rudy's
plea bargain or any concerns about the criminal investigation.
"I have not been subpoenaed, I have not been talked to," he told
National Public Radio.
"I know you, the press, has a hard time believing it, but the truth is
I am not a target of this investigation. Abramoff has nothing to do
with me."
Even so, legal experts said DeLay should be worried that federal
prosecutors seemed to have him in their sights.
"They've penetrated his inner sanctum with a guy who says he was doing
things in his office," said Stanley Brand, a Washington lawyer who's
defended about two dozen cases involving official corruption charges.
"This case is just beginning."
Stephen Saltzburg, a professor at the George Washington University Law
School, said DeLay's former aides almost certainly were feeling
intense pressure to pass along any damaging information they had about
their former boss or any other member of Congress.
Rudy and Scanlon each face up to five years in prison and a $250,000
fine for their admitted crimes.
Abramoff faces up to 30 years.
Passing along helpful information could save them years behind bars.
"In order to get substantial credit, you have to be able to give
something," Saltzburg said.
"There's going to be a lot of pressure on his former aides, if there's
anything there, to cooperate. People have a motive to point the
finger, even if it shouldn't be pointed."
Lawyers who've worked at the intersection of politics and criminal law
expressed skepticism about DeLay's explanation that he stepped down
because of concerns that he'd lose his re-election bid in November.
"The guy has a hide of titanium. This is not about his election, this
is about his defense of the criminal investigation," former federal
prosecutor John P. Flannery II said.
"The circle is closing on him for a federal indictment."
Brand, whose previous clients have included members of Congress, said
it wasn't uncommon for lawmakers to shelve their political careers
when faced with the possibility of criminal charges.
"He's going to face hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal expenses
if he gets charged and decides to defend himself," Brand said.
"It's hard to focus on that and focus on re-election."
_______________________________________________________
The Insect ain't gonna be smiling on his next mug shot.
Harry
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| User: "abracadabra" |
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| Title: Re: "Hey Tom, could you bend over and pick up the soap?" |
06 Apr 2006 09:06:31 AM |
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"Harry Hope" <rivrvu@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:so7a32l0u9547i7vfsfntjvtsrmgmetpnn@4ax.com...
From Mercury News, 4/4/06:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/14262634.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
Signs point to federal investigators zeroing in on DeLay
BY RON HUTCHESON
Knight Ridder Newspapers
The Insect ain't gonna be smiling on his next mug shot.
If you feel like a laugh, go to freerepublic.com and click on "delay" in
their quick links. Start reading the threads and the responses but make sure
you empty your bladder first, otherwise you might laugh so hard you'll pee
in your pants. Those pathetic yahoos have mostly drunk the Kool-aid,
spouting how "the Democrats will regret this day", whining how "Delay is an
honorable man who will do even better things now" or bitching that "Ronnie
Earl will get his - Delay is going to clean his clock!".
They're even attacking Terri Schiavo's ex-husband!
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