Dollars for Dismissals, page 1

posted on Oct, 7 2005 @ 12:10 PM

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By now it is common knowledge that Texas prosecutor Ronnie Earle has indicted House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on charges related to violations of Texas campaign finance laws. Earle a Democrat keeps stating that politics has nothing to do with these charges and that he is just doing his job as a prosecutor. What is not common knowledge is that he has also indicted several corporations as well, including Sears and the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain. He insists on going ahead with prosecuting DeLay, while making a self-serving deal to let the corporations off of the hook.

www.nationalreview.com
EDITOR'S NOTE: Travis County, Texas prosecutor Ronnie Earle, the man behind Wednesday's indictment of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on state campaign-finance charges, has also indicted several corporations in the probe. But last June, National Review's Byron York learned that Earle offered some of those companies deals in which the charges would be dismissed — if the corporations came up with big donations to one of Earle's favorite causes.

Ronnie Earle, the Texas prosecutor who has indicted associates of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay in an ongoing campaign-finance investigation, dropped felony charges against several corporations indicted in the probe in return for the corporations' agreement to make five- and six-figure contributions to one of Earle's pet causes

A grand jury in Travis County, Texas, last September indicted eight corporations in connection with the DeLay investigation. All were charged with making illegal contributions (Texas law forbids corporate giving to political campaigns). Since then, however, Earle has agreed to dismiss charges against four of the companies — retail giant Sears, the restaurant chain Cracker Barrel, the Internet company Questerra, and the collection company Diversified Collection Services — after the companies pledged to contribute to a program designed to publicize Earle's belief that corporate involvement in politics is harmful to American democracy.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

This being made common knowledge should erase any doubt that Earle’s motives are anything but political. Here he gets to kill two birds with one stone. The removal of DeLay as Majority Leader and financing for his leftist agenda. If there was a crime committed here then I believe that the appropriate punishment should be dealt out as a result of a trial in a court of law. Earl’s actions here are nothing more than a front for extortion. How does a prosecutor get to decide who he is going to charge, especially since a Grand Jury has found a reason to indict? I wonder if DeLay were to offer to make a donation if he could avoid prosecution? No, he would probably have the charge of bribery added to his current charges.

[edit on 10/12/05 by FredT]

df1

posted on Oct, 7 2005 @ 12:45 PM

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This is an op/ed that sounds like it was written by delay's lawyer. The fact remains that delay is being prosecuted on the basis of evidence against him. The only point of interjecting other cases into the mix is to muddy the water.

LazarusTheLong

posted on Oct, 7 2005 @ 01:10 PM

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It is interesting that you and the article don't mention what the pet project is, until the very end of the article...

It seems like a standard prosecuting deal in a private label...
you turn evidence, and we will go easy on you...
instead it is- donate to the fund that goes after corrupt politicians taking illegal money, and we will go easy on you...

it isn't the companys that are the target (why blame a dog for being a dog?)

it is the corrupt politicians that pose the threat to American values and ideals.
Companies will always be willing to offer the money... it is the responsibility of the Politicians to NOT take/accept it thru illegal channels.

It is also interesting that DELAY made a point of saying "done nothing without precidence"... in which he is saying "they all do it, so why can't I"

corrupt campaign contributions are unethical on any basis, and illegal in most...
it is neccessary that an aggressive campaign take these guys out of office, one that requires funding... I doubt that Congress will approve that funding for such an enterprise...