Groups Seek Independent Probe of DeLay

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON - Two government watchdog groups asked the House ethics committee Thursday to appoint an independent counsel to investigate a complaint that House Majority Leader Tom DeLay traded political contributions for legislative favors.



A spokesman said DeLay opposes the groups' request.


The groups said an independent investigator is needed because four members of the committee received political contributions from DeLay and because DeLay, as the second-highest ranking member of the House, wields significant power over the members.


"Mr. Delay's stature as one of the most powerful members of Congress — with the capacity to extract retribution from anyone — makes it especially difficult for his peers to sit in judgment of him," said Common Cause president Chellie Pingree. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which helped prepare the complaint against DeLay, also made the request.

~snip~
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&ncid=1278&e=2&u=/ap/20040715/ap_on_go_co/delay_ethics

Keeping the heat on the bugman.

[CO Liberal]

1. Can They Probe Him With a Cattle Prod?

Please? Please? Huh? Huh?

:-)

[maddezmom]

3. is there such a thing as an elephant prod????

[Vogon_Glory]

5. The Indians Had an Elephant Goad n/t

[yellowcanine]

2. "A spokesman said DeLay opposes the groups' request." Really? Who would

have thunk it?

[bluedeminredstate]

6. He must be guilty!

By the logic he used during the Clinton pseudo-scandals, if he has nothing to hide then he should not oppose any investigation. Hopefully they'll be endless investigations that end up exposing him as a swinger and a closet watcher of Will & Grace!

[Beetwasher]

4. If He's Innocent, He Should Welcome It!

What have you got to hide douchebag?

[fdr_hst_fan]

8. By his reaction,

I'd say: puh-lenty!
:evilgrin:

[maddezmom]

7. Don't forget to rate it

Its current average rating is 4.38 with 70 vote(s0 :)

[maddezmom]

11. kick

:)

[tom_paine]

9. As much chance of getting Himmler to investigate Heydrich

EXACTLY that much chance.

Not one iota more.

[Wapsie B]

10. I still say that we need the death penalty

for white-collar criminals like Lay. Let's see if capital punishment really is a deterrant.

[struggle4progress]

14. Sentence first--verdict afterwards.

Our Tommy boy is, after all, an enemy combatant.

[bluedog]

12. Follow the MONey

"In a May 31, 2001 e-mail to former Enron chief executive Kenneth Lay, Enron lobbyists Rick Shapiro and Linda Robertson wrote that 'DeLay has asked Enron to contribute $100,000 to his leadership committee ARMPAC through a combination of corporate and personal money from Enron executives. ARMPAC funds will be used to assist other House members as well as the redistricting effort in Texas.' ARMPAC is an abbreviation for Americans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee, established by DeLay."
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040713/ap_on_go_co/delay_eth ics_1

Here's how it worked:

"Texans for a Republican Majority, a political action committee connected with U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay sent $190,000 in corporate donations to the Republican National Committee, which then turned around and donated the same amount to seven candidates in Texas House races, The Dallas Morning News reports. Since it is illegal in Texas to use corporate money in political races, some open-government advocates suggest the transaction could have been money laundering, the News reports.

The $190,000 check to the RNC is reflected in September 2002 federal disclosure records submitted by Texans for a Republican Majority. Within three weeks of that check, according to state and federal and state ethics disclosure records, the RNC then sent seven checks to House candidates for the same amount."
http://www.polstate.com/archives/004966.html#004966

Just business as usual for the "law and order" party...

[maddezmom]

13. kick

or the moral majority party? :shrug:

[dusty64]

15. Another whitewash

bullshit fix can NOT be allowed. Enough already!