The Humiliation of Ronnie Earle Continues
Powerline ^ | October 5, 2005 | John Hinderaker
powerlineblog.com
America's worst DA, the execrable Ronnie Earle, admitted today that he went grand jury shopping. After his initial indictment of Tom DeLay fell apart, he went to a second grand jury, presented his evidence, and the grand jury refused to return any charge against DeLay. Undeterred, Earle then went to a third grand jury that was more pliable and agreed to a "money laundering" indictment on the basis of what could only have been, at most, a few hours of "evidence." The Austin Statesman has a report:
A Travis County grand jury last week refused to indict former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay as prosecutors raced to salvage their felony case against the Sugar Land Republican.
In a written statement Tuesday, Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle acknowledged that prosecutors presented their case to three grand juries — not just the two they had discussed — and one grand jury refused to indict DeLay. When questions arose about whether the state's conspiracy statute applied to the first indictment returned last Wednesday, prosecutors presented a new money-laundering charge to second grand jury on Friday because the term of the initial grand jury had expired.
Working on its last day Friday, the second grand jury refused to indict DeLay. Normally, a "no-bill" document is available at the courthouse after such a decision. No such document was released Tuesday.
Ronnie Earle is a disgrace to the legal profession and the people of Austin, Texas. I'm not sure whether his abuse of his office is ground for disbarment or not, but, in any event, his shameful political pursuit of Tom DeLay must end. |
