Two on ethics panel won't probe DeLay (Smith-TX and Cole-OK)

[rainbow4321]

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/special_packages/iraq/11563740.htm

Two Republicans on the House ethics committee will not participate in any investigation of Majority Leader Tom DeLay because they contributed to DeLay's legal defense funds, the committee's chairman said Wednesday.

Rep. Doc Hastings said the committee members - Reps. Lamar Smith of Texas and Tom Cole of Oklahoma - agreed that the past contributions "raised doubts - however unwarranted - about whether those members would be able to judge fairly allegations of impropriety against Mr. DeLay."

The withdrawal of Smith and Cole from the case would lead Hastings to ask House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., to designate two House members to fill in temporarily in any investigation of DeLay. The House will have a 20-member pool, 10 members from each party, to allow the speaker to chose temporary committee members.

DeLay, R-Texas, has asked the committee to review his travel records and said he would turn over a decade's worth of documents to the committee. DeLay also has asked to appear before the committee.


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Also at:
http://dailydelay.blogspot.com/

[Roland99]

1. Are there any Repubs that *DIDN'T* contribute?

:rofl:

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. "however unwarranted." Yeah, Fuck you too.

[Aviation Pro]

3. Pussies

n/t

[rodeodance]

4. well recall the comm. was purged of those who admonished him

previously. This is 'stacking the court" (or committee) as they say.

[Voltaire99]

5. Can we find little green men in UFOs to probe him?

Purely for scientific purposes, of course.

[Pirate Smile]

6. Two on Ethics Panel Won't Probe DeLay (recuse themselves)

Two Republicans on Ethics Committee Will Not Participate in Any DeLay Investigation

WASHINGTON May 4, 2005 — Two Republican members of the House ethics committee will not participate in any investigation of Majority Leader Tom DeLay because they contributed to DeLay's legal defense chairman, the ethics panel chairman said Wednesday.

The chairman, Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., said Reps. Lamar Smith of Texas and Tom Cole of Oklahoma agreed with him that the past contributions "raised doubts however unwarranted about whether those members would be able to judge fairly allegations of impropriety against Mr. DeLay."

DeLay, R-Texas, has asked the ethics committee to review his travel and said he would turn over a decade's worth of records to the committee. He also asked to appear before the panel.

Hastings, during a now-resolved dispute over the committee's investigative rules, had previously offered to begin a formal investigation of DeLay. However, it is expected that any committee probe at this point would begin with a preliminary review before any formal investigation.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=729137


A newly unveiled billboard about House Majority Leader Tom DeLay is shown near downtown Houston Tuesday, May 3, 2005. The billboard is one of two in the Houston area sponsored by Democracy for America highlighting Delay's questionable dealings with lobbyists and alleged ethics violations, according to the group. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip

[UpInArms]

7. so when does Melissa Hart step aside? ....... eom

[Demeter]

8. Only Two? n/t

[asjr]

9. And when recusing themselves they were

busy stirring the whitewash. If Delay is charged with anything I will be surprised.

[rainbow4321]

10. He already is saying he may NOT appear in person or go under oath

WTF is with this headline..how does HE get off getting to pick the "conditions"??

"DeLay names ethics panel conditions"

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/050505dnnatethics.772a2eb1.html


Majority Leader Tom DeLay has been saying for weeks that he wants to meet with the House ethics committee to explain his overseas trips and relationship with lobbyists. On Wednesday, though, he refused to commit to appearing in person or under oath.

"I'm not prepared to answer that question. I'm hoping that the ethics committee will abide by its process and procedures. And I will adhere to the process and procedures," the Sugar Land Republican said.

Lawyers familiar with the House ethics process say there's ample precedent for investigators to meet informally with targets of an investigation, without putting them under oath.

Fred Wertheimer, head of Democracy 21, a watchdog group that has demanded an investigation, said Mr. DeLay could consult lawyers and make his own judgments about whether to appear before the committee. But in the end, he said, "It's a mistake to think that the terms and conditions under which he appears before the ethics committee is up to him. It's not. It's up to the members of the ethics committee."

[DoYouEverWonder]

18. For someone who claims he's so innocent

why is he afraid to be under oath? This isn't just an issue of the law. There is also Tom's ethics and morals at stake here. This is a guy who claims to be a devout christian. Is this the way christians are supposed to act?

[Erika]

11. Bill Clinton should have told his "investigators" to go to hell

And DeLay gets away with this crap?

[WhiteTara]

12. 2 on Ethics Panel Withdraw From Any DeLay Inquiry

WASHINGTON, May 4 - Two Republican members of the House ethics committee who contributed to the legal defense fund of Representative Tom DeLay, the majority leader, recused themselves Wednesday from any potential investigation of him as the panel took the first steps that could lead to such an inquiry.


After a two-hour meeting, Representative Doc Hastings, the chairman, announced that the two representatives, Lamar Smith of Texas and Tom Cole of Oklahoma, would not take part in any action relating to Mr. DeLay. The two lawmakers each provided $5,000 last year to a fund being used to underwrite Mr. DeLay's legal expenses as he fought accusations of misconduct in Texas and Washington.

<snip>
One outside interest group, the American Progress Action Fund, on Wednesday claimed some success in discouraging companies that have donated to Mr. DeLay's legal fund in the past from doing so again. Officials of the organization said that representatives of American Airlines, Verizon and Nissan had provided assurances that they would make no more contributions.

An aide to Mr. DeLay said the companies had not contributed for years and in some cases had new policies prohibiting such gifts. Mr. DeLay was dismissive. "Do you really think a leftist group like that will have an impact on people that support me and support what I am trying to accomplish here?" he asked.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/05/politics/05ethics.html

Oh, I can hardly wait to watch him do the perp walk!
:bounce:

[cry baby]

13. hehe, that is good news! nt

[merwin]

14. 2 Republicans Step Aside From Ethics Panel

2 Republicans Step Aside From Ethics Panel

WASHINGTON - Two Republicans on the House ethics committee say they'll step aside from any investigation of Tom DeLay, acknowledging their contributions to the majority leader's defense funds will lead others to question their impartiality.

The withdrawal announcement Wednesday represented the second time in two weeks that majority Republicans caved in to criticism by minority Democrats. Last week, Republicans reversed themselves and voted to reinstate investigative procedures they put in place nearly a decade ago.

Democrats have complained for months that Speaker Dennis Hastert appointed Republicans Lamar Smith of Texas and Tom Cole of Oklahoma to make the panel more favorable to DeLay, R-Texas. Both said they could be impartial despite their contributions, but they agreed with ethics committee Chairman Doc Hastings, R-Wash., that it was best to avoid controversy.

Cole then took a shot at his Democratic critics: "Those that sought to politicize the ethics process should start putting the institution ahead of their partisan agenda."

...

[quaoar]

15. Maybe Cole and the rest of the GOP Cabal

should follow his own advice.

[rocktivity]

16. Good news! But aren't ALL FIVE of the Repubs on the committee

DeLay donors? I think an independent prosecutor is in order.

:shrug:
rocknation

[Vogon_Glory]

17. Either They've Developed A Sense of Shame, OR

Either Congressmen Smith and Cole have developed a sense of shame or they realize just how embarrassing it would be to be publicly linked to DeLay's activities during a hearing.

[DoYouEverWonder]

19. I'll pick answer #2

Tommy must be starting to feel very lonely lately. No one returns his calls anymore. No one want to take their picture with him. Even his staffers are starting to bail. Poor, poor, pitiful Tom.