Hammer Time

At least Tom Delay was crafty enough to get convicted on a slow news day.

He will appeal, not without reason:

Mr. DeLay was initially charged with breaking campaign finance law. But prosecutors later switched strategies because it was impossible under the law at the time to accuse someone of conspiring to break campaign finance rules, prosecutors said.

Instead, prosecutors used a novel legal theory never before tried in Texas: They argued that Mr. DeLay and two of his political operatives — John Colyandro and Jim Ellis — had violated the criminal money-laundering law.

They were charged with conspiring to funnel $190,000 in corporate donations to state candidates through the Republican National Committee.

...Mr. DeGuerin said Mr. DeLay would try to convince an appeals court that the money-laundering statute should never had been applied to the money swap — because the original donations were legal and also because the donations to the state candidates came out of a different account than the one in which the corporate donations were deposited.

 

 

Comments

[Boatbuilder]

Sounds like Delay was convicted of being a Republican in Austin.

[Janet the tea-vangelist!]

Exactly Boatbuilder. It is pretty sad. God bless Tom Delay & his family.

[centralcal]

Ditto what Janet said.

[Danube of Thought]

Anybody know anything about the judge?

[Ignatz]

Once again a guy lands himself in prison by talking to the cops.
If a cop is investigating anything that might even remotely involve you, clam up, even if you think you're as pure as the driven snow.
Somewhat odd law particulary in light of Citizen's United however so I give him 40/60 on appeal, which is considerably better than most folks' chances.

[Pasadena Phil]

I would like to point out that this happened in Texas, a supposedly conservative (open borders) state, not "blue" California where we built the only effective border fence in the US. If this can happen there, how "red" can Texas be? Looks to me like the libs dominate there too.

[Kate]

Trial took place in Austin, the one liberal bastion in Texas. A Repub can be convicted of anything in that city.

[rrpjr]

Austin? He was shipwrecked before he got aboard. "Liberal justice" -- a taste of what they've got in store for all of us given enough time and judiciary-packing.

I wonder if Austin is interested in hosting the trial of Obama for actual money-laundering of actually ILLEGAL foreign contributions from the 2008 campaign? Didn't think so.

[Jane (get off the couch - come save the country)]

I say we immediately indict every elected official who has done the same thing.

[Jinny]

I live in Austin but not in Travis County. In my opinion, Ronnie Earle was as bad a persecutor/prosecutor as Fitzgerald, just not as publicized. The fact that this dragged on for eight years is telling.

Austin is the center of Liberalville in Texas and Delay should not have been tried here. The motion to move the trial was denied.

If there is any justice, this conviction will be overturned on appeal. However if it isn't, this will be quite a precedent in the future. I always think it's interesting how liberal haters don't think through what the consequences will be if their vendettas succeed.

[Jane (get off the couch - come save the country)]

Is Ronnie Earle elected?

[Gmax]

I see a Californian talking about that which he knows nothing about. Stunningly predictable! The People's Republic of Austin is indeed a blue island in the sea of red.

Now its legal for corporations to donate to PACs and its legal for PACs to donate to candidates, but somehow Delay in running the PAC laundered money? What? Is this out of a Franz Kafka book plot?

Good news, that our Californian probably does not know either, is that Criminal Appeals Court judges in Texas are elected, and every single one of them is a Republican.

My opinion, and my wallet's opinion, is this never gets to the Supreme Court ( which is also populated solely with Republicans ) as a thinking appeals court judge will see this for the liberal sham prosecution that it is.

[Gmax]

Slight correction to my post, in Texas but for Death penalty cases, the highest court is the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. There is a lower appeals court in the chain as well, there are 14 jurisdictions around the state for the first level of appeal.

[Jinny]

Jane, yes it is an elected office, District Attorney for Travis County. He also prosecuted Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. He decided not to seek reelection in 2007.

I could offer my opinion of him but it's Thanksgiving so I'll just say I'm thankful he's out of office.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

[Jane (get off the couch - come save the country)]

Let's prosecute him!

[JorgXMcKie]

Didn't Nancy Pelosi pass through Texas at least once? Maybe a Republican prosecutor could charge her the same way. That would be interesting.

[Janet the tea-vangelist!]

Why couldn't Delay just get censured by "somebody"? How does a person get on the "will be censured but never prosecuted" list?
I'd like to be on that list the next time I get pulled over for speeding.

[jpe]

Now its legal for corporations to donate to PACs

No, it's not. Still illegal.

[JM Hanes]

Janet:

"How does a person get on the "will be censured but never prosecuted" list?"

Don't resign from Congress when accused of wrongdoing, i.e. be a Democrat.

[Pasadena Phil]

Gmax said: "I see a Californian talking about that which he knows nothing about."

A point that Texans and the rest of the country should remember when attacking CA out of bigotry rather than knowledge.

[caro]

Don't resign from Congress when accused of wrongdoing, i.e. be a Democrat.

Ain't that the truth,JMH!

[Coastal Eddie]

Why are you trying to confuse readers by using facts?

It appears this "jury" was the equivalent of a lynch mob.

[Gmax]

If I were in California with Moonbeam on the rise, I would be packing my bags and emptying my bank accounts. Enjoy!

[Gmax]

No, it's not. Still illegal.

Sorry its never been illegal for a corporation to contribute to a PAC. Still is not. Read up.

[Threadkiller]

If I were in California with Moonbeam on the rise, I would be packing my bags and emptying my bank accounts. Enjoy!

The state has already emptied our bank accounts and San Francisco is way ahead of you on having their shit packed.

[Gmax]

Yeah but you got script IOUS so there is that!

[Marisol]

i have a so called hammer toe, but it docent bother me.i think its kind of cool because you can wrap it all the other toes...

Vimax

[cmcgov]

Tom Delay is indeed a crafty man and an elusive man as well. But also a brave and smart fellow. Imagine what he had done, only a courageous man who is not afraid whatever consequences there is to face if caught. But still I ma glad that it was finally over. It is just fair for him to serve what he deserve. Indeed, it is hammer time for Tom!