Cheney judge to stay; drops Lucio Indictment

[Robbien]

Source: Chron

RAYMONDVILLE — Shortly after surviving a recusal motion, a judge on Monday dismissed an indictment against state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. that accused the Brownsville Democrat of corruption.

A grand jury indicted Lucio last month along with Vice President Dick Cheney, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and others. Lucio was charged with profiting from his elected position by consulting for private prison companies.

The indictments of all the officials centered on the alleged abuse of inmates at private prisons in Willacy County.

Without hearing evidence on the charge against Lucio, Manuel Banales dismissed the indictment because it did not address a "culpable mental state."

"You can't commit a crime unless you know you're doing something wrong," said Lucio's attorney, Michael Cowen.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6141459.html

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The Judge was asked to remove himself because he was accused of incapable of being impartial. Dismissing charges against a public official who collects consulting fees from a prison while also collecting a salary from taxpayers to legislate that prison? Sure sounds like the Judge is incapable of being impartial to me.

[Xipe Totec]

1. It's not a crime, unless you think it's wrong?!

That should be enough to kick the bench right from under Judge Manuel Pañales.

[acmavm]

3. Wow! If that's the rule than I know a boatload of people who owe me

apologies for stuff they said I did wrong. Now I find out that ignorace IS an excuse.

[bertman]

2. I wonder what the tab was for that "ruling"? Justice Texas-style.