Reading the news today was like reading the script of an episode of Law and Order. Assistant DA Jack McCoy wanted to make a statement about some criminal, so in the process, he amends the charges to include something outrageous but technically legal. By the end of the show, you are wowed at his legal prowess and agree that making the point is more important than reading the law. (that was sarcasm by the way…)
Enter Ronnie Earle. DA of Travis County. When Earl saw that the grand jury would not indict Tom DeLay, he amended the charges to include conspiracy (which is significantly easier to bring to trial). Earl says he is pursuing DeLay because it is the right thing to do, while republicans scream of partisan misuse of an office. It seems a little specious to not allow the home jurisdiciton to deal with this “crime”–if there is one.
Do I like Tom DeLay? No. I think he plays politics way too much and speaks out of both sides of his mouth. Does this remind me of the Martha Stewart case? Yes…she got screwed by an unethical prosecutor, and it seems like DeLay may suffer the same fate.