GOP operative should stand trial for money-laundering (DeLay's PAC)

[Rose Siding]

State District Judge Bob Perkins today said he believes two officials with Texans for a Republican Majority should stand trial on felony charges of money laundering.

The judge ruled that the state election code is constitutional and said he disagreed with arguments that the money-laundering charges had to refer to "cash" instead of a $190,000 check that the pair is accused laundering during the 2002 legislative elections.

Perkins, a Democrat who must run for office, referred to his own fundraisers: "All the funds I ever received were checks. In my opinion, funds would include checks."

Although Perkins was clear on what he thought the law was, the results of the hearing were muddled because he ruled in the case against John Colyandro, the executive director of TRMPAC, but withheld a ruling in the case against political consultant Jim Ellis, at the request of Ellis' lawyers.
...
During the 2002 elections, Texans for a Republican Majority, a political committee created by U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, spent about $600,000 in corporate money on fundraisers and to pay for pollsters and phone banks.

.....more....

http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/metro/stories/07/13trmpac_me.html

[krkaufman]

1. Hopefully....

... but withheld a ruling in the case against political consultant Jim Ellis, at the request of Ellis' lawyers.

Hopefully, this means Ellis may be looking to cut a deal, and maybe flip on Delay. (fingers and toes crossed)

[aquart]

2. I don't give a damn about "should." Tell me when it's "will."

[AlCzervik]

3. GOP operative should stand trial for money-laundering (Texas)

By Laylan Copelin
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
State District Judge Bob Perkins today said he believes two officials with Texans for a Republican Majority should stand trial on felony charges of money laundering.

The judge ruled that the state election code is constitutional and said he disagreed with arguments that the money-laundering charges had to refer to "cash" instead of a $190,000 check that the pair is accused laundering during the 2002 legislative elections.

Perkins, a Democrat who must run for office, referred to his own fundraisers: "All the funds I ever received were checks. In my opinion, funds would include checks."

Although Perkins was clear on what he thought the law was, the results of the hearing were muddled because he ruled in the case against John Colyandro, the executive director of TRMPAC, but withheld a ruling in the case against political consultant Jim Ellis, at the request of Ellis' lawyers.

More at link
http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/metro/stories/07/13trmpac_me.html

[maddezmom]

4. hope this starts the ball rolling...up next the "Duke Stir"

then all those dudes in Ohio. :D

[JNelson6563]

5. Their house of cards is crashing down

with their two biggest bullies in the hotseat things must be taking on a rather grim hue in the eyes of Rethugs. I always knew their downfall would be their arrogance, they'd keep pushing the limits. Each thing they achieved at no political cost (and often high monetary profit) emboldened them until they went too far....which apparently they have.

Strike while the iron's hot. :toast:

Julie

[jarab]

6. kick ...

...O...

[Judi Lynn]

7. Judge Refuses to Drop Case Against DeLay Ally

Judge Refuses to Drop Case Against DeLay Ally

By R. Jeffrey Smith
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 13, 2005; Page A05

A Texas state judge yesterday reaffirmed the indictment of a political associate of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), turning aside his claim that a state law barring the use of corporate funds in the 2002 Texas election was unconstitutionally vague.

The ruling was the latest of several in Texas courts to run against former officials of Texans for a Republican Majority, which was created by DeLay and his political aides to orchestrate a 2002 takeover of the Texas House. That victory in turn led to a redistricting of Texas congressional seats and helped cement GOP control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The legal dispute has its roots in Texas's long-standing prohibition on the use of corporate money in state elections and the group's collection of more than a half million dollars of such funds, which it poured into the races of 17 Republicans elected to the state House.

In September 2004, a grand jury indicted John Colyandro, who directed the Texas group, on charges of illegally collecting the money. Colyandro, a veteran of White House political adviser Karl Rove's direct-mail firm, had sought to have the indictment dismissed on grounds that the law was poorly drafted and infringed on protected rights.
(snip/...)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/12/AR2005071201297.html
(Free registration required)

[54anickel]

8. So, the law doesn't apply if one is of the opinion that it is poorly

drafted? Hell, I'll have to remember that line of defense.

[clydefrand]

9. This sounds goood. Defeated Dems got some money from this.

In May, another state judge, ruling in a civil case, similarly upheld the election law's constitutionality. That judge found the group's treasurer, Bill Ceverha, had illegally failed to report the contributions and ordered him to pay $196,660 in damages to five of the defeated Democratic candidates.

[damntexdem]

10. And this keeps the pressure on DeLay.

He's also gotta go. Well, he may even get bagged in the 1006 election.

[maddezmom]

11. John Colyandro "longtime pal of Rove's"

-- John Colyandro wrote direct mail pieces for Rove in the 1980s. When he was hired as executive director of the Texans for a Republican Majority PAC, he was described as a "longtime pal of Rove's." This week, a judge said Colyandro must stand trial for laundering over $600,000 in corporate campaign contributions.


"Could party leaders' abrupt about-face on the Plame case have anything to do with the other ethics scandals that have been grabbing headlines for months now?" said Kelley. "It seems there are more than a few bad apples in this barrel, and they don't like it that the public is starting to find out."

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usnw/20050714/pl_usnw/campaign_for_a_cleaner_congress__rove_tied_to_house_lobbying_scandal_through_former_aides106_xml