Text 18695, 88 rader
Skriven 2006-04-06 10:22:24 av BOB SAKOWSKI (1:123/140)
Ärende: DeLay
=============
Signs point to federal investigators zeroing in on DeLay

BY RON HUTCHESON
Knight Ridder Newspapers

WASHINGTON - Rep. Tom DeLay's decision to leave Congress ends his political
problems, but his legal woes may be far from over.

The former House majority leader announced his resignation three days after
court documents revealed that federal investigators have uncovered evidence
of corruption in his leadership office. Tony Rudy, former deputy chief of
staff to the powerful Republican congressman from Texas, admitted in a plea
agreement that he sold his influence to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff
while he was working for DeLay.

Rudy became the second former DeLay aide who's agreed to cooperate with
federal investigators in return for a more lenient sentence.

"Any rational person in his (DeLay's) position would be very concerned,"
said Kendall Coffey, a former federal prosecutor who's now a prominent
defense lawyer in Miami. "Whether it's working up the ladder at Enron or a
drug organization, it's classic strategy to work up by getting plea
agreements and cooperation at each level."

DeLay, who's under indictment in Texas in a separate case involving his
handling of campaign contributions, hasn't been accused of any wrongdoing in
the Abramoff influence-peddling scandal. The congressman says he was unaware of
any illegal activity by Rudy or his former press secretary Michael Scanlon.

Scanlon and Abramoff also are cooperating with prosecutors as part of a
plea bargain.

DeLay said his decision to step down had nothing to do with Rudy's plea bargain
or any concerns about the criminal investigation.

"I have not been subpoenaed, I have not been talked to," he told National
Public Radio. "I know you, the press, has a hard time believing it, but the
truth is I am not a target of this investigation. Abramoff has nothing to
do with me."

Even so, legal experts said DeLay should be worried that federal
prosecutors seemed to have him in their sights.

"They've penetrated his inner sanctum with a guy who says he was doing
things in his office," said Stanley Brand, a Washington lawyer who's
defended about two dozen cases involving official corruption charges. "This
case is just beginning."

Stephen Saltzburg, a professor at the George Washington University Law
School, said DeLay's former aides almost certainly were feeling intense
pressure to pass along any damaging information they had about their former
boss or any other member of Congress.

Rudy and Scanlon each face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine
for their admitted crimes. Abramoff faces up to 30 years. Passing along
helpful information could save them years behind bars.

"In order to get substantial credit, you have to be able to give
something," Saltzburg said. "There's going to be a lot of pressure on his
former aides, if there's anything there, to cooperate. People have a motive
to point the finger, even if it shouldn't be pointed."

Lawyers who've worked at the intersection of politics and criminal law
expressed skepticism about DeLay's explanation that he stepped down because of
concerns that he'd lose his re-election bid in November.

"The guy has a hide of titanium. This is not about his election, this is
about his defense of the criminal investigation," former federal prosecutor
John P. Flannery II said. "The circle is closing on him for a federal
indictment."

Brand, whose previous clients have included members of Congress, said it
wasn't uncommon for lawmakers to shelve their political careers when faced
with the possibility of criminal charges.

"He's going to face hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal expenses if
he gets charged and decides to defend himself," Brand said. "It's hard to
focus on that and focus on re-election."
[end]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/14262634.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp


The Consumate Corruptables, aka the conservative wing of the Republican
Party.

--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5
 * Origin: Try Our Web Based QWK: DOCSPLACE.ORG (1:123/140)