September 28, 2005
DeLay IndictedA Texas grand jury on Wednesday charged Rep. Tom DeLay and two political associates with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme, an indictment that could force him to step down as House majority leader.If he did commit any campaign finance crimes, he should have done it at a Buddhist temple or at least drank a lot of fluids, both of which seemed to get Al Gore off the hook.
Meanwhile, Drudge is reporting that Speaker Dennis Hastert will promote David Dreier to House Majority Leader.
UPDATE: DeLay says he'll step aside as Majority Leader...
UPDATE: DeLay press release:
"I have notified the Speaker that I will temporarily step aside from my position as majority leader pursuant to rules of the House Republican Conference and the actions of the Travis County District Attorney today."
UPDATE: Anyone think Chuck Schumer is next? How about Harry Reid? Dick Durbin? Jim McDermott? Nancy Pelosi?
UPDATE: Statement from National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Tom Reynolds in response to Democrat Ronnie Earle’s 11th hour indictment of Majority Leader Tom DeLay:
“The Majority Leader has been a highly effective leader of our conference. Democrats resent Tom DeLay because he routinely defeats them – both politically and legislatively.“Although much of Ronnie Earle’s investigation has been conducted in secret, we know that he is an unapologetic Democrat partisan. Throughout his three-year scrutiny of the Majority Leader, Earle has been incapable of separating his personal politics from his professional responsibilities. He has used his investigatory powers to energize Democrat activists, and Democrat activists have, in turn, fueled the zeal with which he has pursued DeLay.
“It was only months ago that Ronnie Earle attended a Democrat Party fundraiser in which he openly discussed an ongoing investigation in front of a room full of party activists, and then singled out and attacked a potential target of the investigation. Earle’s unapologetic politicization of the probe prompted the Houston Chronicle to opine that Earle’s behavior has ‘damaged the credibility of his investigation with a stunning display of prosecutorial impropriety.’
“Until Majority Leader Tom DeLay has his day in court, it is vitally important he be afforded the same presumption of innocence afforded to every other American.”
UPDATE: Click here for more coverage...
Posted by Jonathan R. on September 28, 2005 12:49 PM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.gopbloggers.org/mt/majority.cgi/2154
Comments
I like Delay alot but in the interests of the party, he should leave his position and his seat. How is he going to run for re-election while being under indictment?
Posted by: SBulka ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.gopbloggers.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 28, 2005 01:10 PM
Tom Delay should not step aside because this is all a farse. The prosocuter is a registered democrat in west texas and is doing this for political motives. You weak knee republicans need to stand behind Delay or get the hell out of the way. I STAND BEHIND HIM AND ANY TRUE CONSERVATIVE SHOULD TO.
Posted by: David Aulds at September 28, 2005 01:39 PM
Looks like our resident self-attackers are going to be doing a jig now. Their first kill.
Bring 'em Down! Bring 'em ALL Down! - right Jonathan. Here's a towel - go clean yourself up now.
Posted by: Reverend Scaramonga at September 28, 2005 02:02 PM
Commrades, you don't understand. Presumption of innocence is only for our party members (i.e. Kennedy, O.J., AlGore). This is not for the rest.
Posted by: RA at September 28, 2005 02:02 PM
Post a comment
