Earle Subpoenas Former DeLay Campaign Aide Robert Mills

[babylonsister]

From DUer UpInArms:

Earle Subpoenas Former DeLay Campaign Aide (Robert Mills/US Family Network


http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0106/296507.html

Washington (AP) - A former campaign manager of Rep. Tom DeLay who also ran an organization linked to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff was subpoenaed by a Texas prosecutor Monday. Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle filed documents in Austin seeking records from Robert G. Mills in connection with a probe of DeLay, who is awaiting trial in Texas on money laundering charges.

Earle wants information about a $500,000 political contribution made in 1999 by the National Republican Congressional Committee to the U.S. Family Network, a now-disbanded nonprofit advocacy group for conservative ideas. Mills, DeLay's 1996 campaign manager, was president of the U.S. Family Network.

The Washington Post reported that donations to U.S. Family Network came from clients of Abramoff, who has pleaded guilty to federal charges in a congressional corruption investigation.

DeLay, R-Texas, has denied through a spokesman that donations to U.S. Family Network influenced his legislative agenda. DeLay's attorney, Dick DeGuerin, was not immediately available for comment Monday, but has previously questioned whether subpoenas can be enforced because the case is on appeal.

...more...

[sonias]

1. Keep pulling those threads Ronnie

And DeLay and his whole culture of corruption network will unravel. U.S. Family Network was just a fake front non-profit to launder republican money. It never did one thing that was charitable or for the common good. It was only there for Tom DeLay to suck more money out of republican money bags and funnel them into his own pockets. I think his wife Christine drew a salary from a related consultant who was paid by U.S. Family Network too.

Here is the WaPo story from 12/31
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/30/AR2005123001480_pf.html
The DeLay-Abramoff Money Trail
Nonprofit Group Linked to Lawmaker Was Funded Mostly by Clients of Lobbyist
But the records show that the tiny U.S. Family Network, which never had more than one full-time staff member, spent comparatively little money on public advocacy or education projects. Although established as a nonprofit organization, it paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees to Buckham and his lobbying firm, Alexander Strategy Group.

There is no evidence DeLay received a direct financial benefit, but Buckham's firm employed DeLay's wife, Christine, and paid her a salary of at least $3,200 each month for three of the years the group existed. Richard Cullen, DeLay's attorney, has said that the pay was compensation for lists Christine DeLay supplied to Buckham of lawmakers' favorite charities, and that it was appropriate under House rules and election law.

Sonia

[sonias]

2. More detail in this story

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/01/24delay.html
DeLay associate subpoenaed
Mills played many roles as DeLay ally
The prosecutors subpoenaed records from Robert G. Mills, once a central figure in DeLay Inc., the nickname given to the blend of the former House majority leader's political operations with Washington lobbyists and grassroots organizations.

Mills also once led a nonprofit group that received millions of dollars from clients of former lobbyist Jack Abramoff's.

(snip)
In 1996, Mills directed DeLay's reelection campaign for his Houston-area seat, then moved over as president of U.S. Family Network, a family-values-oriented nonprofit group later fined by the Federal Election Commission for funneling corporate money into attack ads against Democrats.(/snip)

Oh dots, why do you keep trying to make connections.

:evilgrin:

Sonia

[babylonsister]

3. The 'bugman' hits just keep coming, and we haven't even

gotten into the area of his involvement with Abramoff...yet. :evilgrin: