Earle seeks records on DeLay-linked nonprofit

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON — A Texas prosecutor issued subpoenas today for records of a contribution to a nonprofit organization linked to Rep. Tom DeLay and lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle is seeking records about a $500,000 contribution made by the National Republican Congressional Committee to US Family Network, a now-disbanded nonprofit advocacy group for conservative ideas. Those subpoenaed include Ed Buckham, a close adviser and former chief of staff to DeLay who founded US Family Network, and Sally Vastola, NRCC executive director.

The Washington Post recently reported that donations to the nonprofit came from Abramoff, who pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges in a congressional corruption investigation. He has pledged to assist the Justice Department in its probe.

DeLay, R-Texas, has denied through a spokesman that donations to US Family Network influenced his legislative agenda. DeLay's attorney, Dick DeGuerin, was not immediately available but has dismissed previous subpoenas filed by Earle for Abramoff-related records as fishing expeditions.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3568242.html

[Not_Giving_Up]

1. I really like this part

"I'm going to call Roswell (N.M.) and warn them that Ronnie Earle is on the witch hunt for the Martians they have there," NRCC spokesman Carl Forti said.


What are they? In the third grade? They can't come up with anything better than that!

[stepnw1f]

2. What a Flippant Asshole

I can't wait to see this guy hang.

[aquart]

3. Literally? I favor literally.

I'm really so tired of seeing them just get promoted.

Now I'd be comforted to see them hang.

[Rose Siding]

4. Yeah, but I picture it more like "he said, sweating nervously"

;)

[rodeodance]

6. laughing this off is not a good strategy (not that i care-)

[MagickMuffin]

5. Here's some other fishy DeLay misdeeds!

These guys really are ethically challenged. Go, Ronnie:applause:

The Senate Finance Committee has opened a separate inquiry and is examining, among other things, transactions of the tax-exempt National Center for Public Policy Research. The NCPPR is an Abramoff-linked think tank that underwrote trips to Russia, Britain, and Scotland for DeLay. Abramoff's Indian and Russian clients allegedly made contributions to NCPPR at the time of those excursions in amounts that matched the trip costs.

Under House ethics rules, lawmakers cannot take trips funded directly by lobbyists. And it's against the rules for any groups to finance trips through fronts. This case, however, may ultimately be deemed acceptable. DeLay has said he did nothing improper with the NCPPR-financed trips. And the center put out a statement that read in part, "The National Center for Public Policy Research was careful to pay all the expenses associated with Congressman DeLay's trip. Reports to the contrary are incorrect.":eyes:

(Editor's note: The Washington Post reported Sunday that the airfare for trips to London and Scotland in 2000 for DeLay was charged to an American Express card issued to Jack Abramoff, and that some of DeLay's expenses on the trip were covered by a credit card used by a second registered Washington lobbyist, Edwin A. Buckham. A lawyer for DeLay told the Post that DeLay's staff knew Abramoff's then-firm, Preston Gates & Ellis, worked on arrangements for meetings and hotels on the trip, but that DeLay was unaware of the "logistics" of bill payments.)

[SKKY]

7. Oh how the noose is getting tighter around Bug-man's neck...

[Rose Siding]

8. WP tags this as: "Prosecutor Broadens DeLay Inquiry"

The Texas prosecutor who secured an indictment of Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) on money-laundering charges broadened the scope of his inquiry into election spending yesterday, demanding documents related to funds that passed through a nonprofit organization, the U.S. Family Network.

The group, which was founded in 1996 by DeLay's then-chief of staff, Edwin A. Buckham, received $500,000 in 1999 from the National Republican Congressional Committee and used some of the money to finance radio ads attacking Democrats. The Federal Election Commission fined the party in 2004 for its role in the funding.

The prosecutor, Ronnie Earle, sent subpoenas yesterday to Buckham; the group's former president, Christopher Geeslin; the NRCC; and the treasurer of DeLay's leadership political action committee, Americans for a Republican Majority.

The subpoenas asked for all documents related to the $500,000 contribution, including any correspondence involving DeLay or Jack Abramoff....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/05/AR2006010502331.html