Indicting grand jury had Democratic tilt

[Judi Lynn]

Jan. 14, 2006, 1:16AM
Indicting grand jury had Democratic tilt
Panel had fewer Republicans than one that rejected DeLay charge, voting data show


By R.G. RATCLIFFE and AMY RASKIN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

AUSTIN - The grand jury that returned the money-laundering indictment that has been plaguing Republican U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay had more of a Democratic tilt than a grand jury that rejected such charges.

The names of the people who served on the two grand juries were released to the Houston Chronicle on Friday under the state's public information act. Those names were cross-checked with Travis County voting records.

The 14-member grand jury that returned an Oct. 3 money- laundering indictment against DeLay included seven people with a history of voting in Democratic primaries. The other seven either could not be positively identified or had no partisan voting history.

The grand jury that rejected the charge against DeLay four days earlier consisted of four Republicans and two Democrats, with the remainder either not voting in party primaries or unable to be identified.

DeLay's lawyer, Dick DeGuerin, of Houston, has contended that Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle shopped the charges until he found a grand jury that would indict DeLay.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/3586771.html
(Free registration required)

[AtomicKitten]

1. tough shit, Delay

Never before in the history of our country has such rancor permeated every aspect of our society.

[rodeodance]

15. kickypoo poo

[POAS]

2. Which shows that Republicans

are likely to act in a partisan manner in spite of ample evidence which proves them wrong.

[jobycom]

5. Yep. Corrupt, filthy dogs tend to sympathize with their own kind. nt.

[bluestateguy]

3. You don't get to pick your grand jury

Every other American facing charges has to stand before the chosen grand jury, regardless of political affilliation.

DeLay may think this is like politics, where he gets to pick his voters, like his re-redistricting scheme.

[Demit]

4. So 7 out of 14 is a "tilt"?

I didn't register to read the full story, but good gravy! What are these two writers reaching for? That party registration is the motive behind every citizen action? Would that newspapers were always so enthusiastic in their research!

[bluestateguy]

6. Texas doesn't even have party registration

The fact that one voted in party primaries is not solid evidence that one is a member of that party.

[Karmakaze]

9. Very good point...

We know that many freepers have bragged of voting in Dem primaries purely to attempt to get the easiest beaten Dem on the ticket.

So you're absolutely right about that.

[jobycom]

7. The majority of Austin is Democrat.

Sounds like a jury slanted to the right, if only seven were Democrats in Austin.

[Karmakaze]

8. One could just as easily say the unbalanced first jury...

rejected charges because there were more Republicans than Democrats. The deciding factor will be if he is convicted of the charges.

Even then, it is not absolute that the GJ acted improperly. Remember the GJ does not make any findings of fact, it merely decides whether there is a case to answer - ie. enough evidence to believe that a conviction may be possible.

[booksenkatz]

11. Yep, just like 50% is a mandate, dontcha know.

[TankLV]

17. Sound like an extremely balanced one to me - 50-50, right?

I mean, just what do these repuke asswipes want, all repuke campaign chairmen like all the other times?

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. So our justice system all boils down to chance.

You can't criticize the outcome of one jury, unless you criticize the outcome of the second one for the same reason.

[BR_Parkway]

12. But Alito won't be influenced by his politics? C'mon now, which is

it? 7 out of 14 is hardly a majority.

[Little Star]

13. This article sounds like a plant

DeLay trying to muddy the waters.

[rodeodance]

14. life sucks bugman. pay the piper

[TankLV]

16. Tough shit. I'm sure all those repuke that supported the repuke SCOTUS

and the "impartiality" of bunkerboy's repuke campaign chairmen running the states' elections commissions and ruling on all those "impartial" decisions that "just happened" to favor only repukes in 2000 would agree that it doesn't matter one bit!

:sarcasm:

[Charlie Brown]

18. 7/14 is not a "Democratic Tilt"

thanks, "Liberal Media."

[Miss Chybil]

19. And he still gets his day in court.

Quit crying, DeLayed. You're innocent until proven guilty. So, what do you have to worry about? Guilt, perhaps? SwhatIthought.

[HuffleClaw]

20. HALF is a 'tilt' ?

what kind of bogus reporting is this? good lord. liberal media my foot.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

21. So unless you're a registered rethug,

you must not be a fair judge of them?

I guess he needs a jury of crooks.