Lawyer Says DOJ Ends Criminal Probe of Tom DeLay

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

A lawyer for former congressman Tom DeLay says the Justice Department has ended a probe of DeLay and will not file any criminal charges.

The six-year criminal investigation focused on DeLay's ties to imprisoned former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

One of DeLay's lawyers, Richard Cullen, said Monday the Justice Department's Office of Public Integrity informed DeLay's legal team early last week that it was ending the investigation. The Justice Department has not publicly commented on whether the investigation has ended.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/08/16/us/politics/AP-US-DeLay-Abramoff.html?hp

---

DeLay Will Not Face Federal Charges
A separate state probe in Texas into an alleged scheme to funnel corporate money in the 2002 campaign remains open, Cullen said. DeLay and two other men are allegedly raised $190,000 in corporate money in Texas through a fundraising committee and sent it the Republican National Committee, which then gave the money to candidates in Texas, a state which bans corporate donations.
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/delay_will_not_face_federal_charges.php

[rsmith6621]

1. Surprised???

...I'm not....

[ixion]

6. Nope, not in the least.

They always cover for their own.

[spotbird]

15. He's a corrupt Republican

I'm only surprised it wasn't dropped 18 months ago. Wonder why they waited?

[Doremus]

2. Ah yes, still looking forward .... :rollseyes:

I thought he was indicted a long time ago?

[northoftheborder]

3. Delay indicted in Travis County years ago....not tried

I didn't realize he was also being investigated at Federal level.... Guess that's why the trial here has not gone forward....

[MessiahRp]

4. Obama Administration = Cowards.

Cowards on prosecuting Republican crimes. Cowards on fighting any tough battles on legislation. Cowards on everything.

His cowardice is going to cost him 2012.

Rp

[Enthusiast]

7. +1, nt

[glitch]

8. I am more worried about Congress in 2010.

Not cleaning out the filth in Federal government is discouraging a lot of people who thought that was the change they were voting for. Right now the only people they can take that frustration out on are incumbants in Congress.

Not just Democrats either, Independents and Republicans also voted for exactly that. It is a mistake to triangulate away from the above and towards Corporations, the other "third" party.

[JDPriestly]

10. +1

As I have posted before, presidents do not come to office out of nowhere. Like everyone else they have pasts -- families, disappointments, joys, successes.

Obama is the child of divorced parents. His early life was one of upheaval. He lived quite a bit of his life with his grandparents.

As a result, he likes peace and quiet. He does not like dissension, disagreement. He seeks conciliation rather than conflict.

Problem is. The job of president involves a lot of conflict, a lot of righting wrongs, a lot of using power in ways that cause dissension and conflict, not just peace and harmony. Obama just does not have the stomach for making some of the really tough decisions about policy that he should be making.

My post will elicit the following reactions: 1) Obama is the great chess player. He has a game plan we don't understand and 2) It's not Obama's fault. It's the fault of Congress.

First of all, Obama's game plan is to avoid offending anyone unless absolutely necessary, at least of they are rich and powerful enough to donate to his campaign or if they are strong enough to cause a lot of noise when they are treated justly. DeLay is both rich and powerful and very strong politically. So, Obama is avoiding offending him.

Second, Obama's job is to herd members of Congress. He certainly brought Kucinich into line with a visit to Kucinich's district in the primary election. He rushes to the support of any conservative Democrat he can. He always chooses the easy path. He never takes on the challenge of standing up for something that is right when it is really difficult. He is the child of divorced parents. Sorry, guys. Don't divorce your spouse if you want a strong child with a lot of courage.

[groundloop]

14. WTF does President Obama's childhood have to do with a DOJ decision?

It wasn't President Obama that made this decision, it was Justice Department lawyers. The President can't possibly put his stamp of approval on every nit-picking little decision that's made by every single government employee. While I'd have thought that DeLay would have been prosecuted by the feds I still believe he'll get his due when the state case comes up.

[JDPriestly]

16. I wish I could believe that the DOJ does not answer to Obama,

but I know that Obama could replace his Attorney General any time he wanted -- as long as he has a Democratic majority in the Senate and appoints a replacement Attorney General who is reasonably well respected by leaders of both parties. And, frankly, that is what he should do. He chose our current attorney general because Holder does not make waves. Holder is inclined to avoid controversy and conflict. That is not a good quality in an attorney general.

Remember Robert F. Kennedy. He never hesitated because he wanted to avoid conflict or controversy. Now that was an attorney general.

I am very disappointed in Holder. And I say that as one who supported him in the beginning. Holder has not done even an acceptable job as Attorney General. His leadership has been totally unacceptable, especially on human rights issues.

Remember how he caved on Guantanamo. That was Obama's decision. Don't claim that Holder does not follow Obama's direction. Not after Holder's flip-flopping on Guantanamo and the locations of the trials of the 9/11 defendants.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

5. Were the DOJ having tea with DeLay?

[pleah]

9. Like I didn't see that coming.

What a scam.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

11. Oh WTF???!!! nt

[femrap]

12. Makes me just want to

:puke: :puke: :puke:

Hell, might as well have Ashcroft back. :wtf: Is this the Dept. in INjustice?

We're like some corrupt 3rd World nation.

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. He still has a case pending in state court

[annm4peace]

17. Sick Sick Sick

there is no Justice.