Category Archives: Scandalized!

With the recent ruling by the Third Court of Appeals that seemed to give validation to the “checks aren’t cash” defense, I wanted to see if my impression of the ruling was shared by anyone else. Towards that end, I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I’m having a hard time wrapping my mind around the idea that the notorious “checks aren’t cash” defense might have gotten enough of a boost from the appeals court ruling on Friday to make it actually viable in a real … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Yes, the appeals process in the matter of the indictments against Tom DeLay and his cohorts Jim Ellis and John Colyandro are still ongoing. And yes, the defendants keep on losing. An appeals court has upheld money-laundering indictments against two … Continue reading → Continue reading →

State Rep. Hubert Vo, who made front-page news earlier this year when it was reported that some apartment complexes he owns were in violation of city electrical and structural standards, has now been certified by the city as being fully … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Lovely. State Representative Borris Miles has been indicted on two counts of deadly conduct. The indictments stem from two different incidents on the same day back in December. The first incident happened during a Rockets/Mavericks game at Toyota Center. At … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Not smart. A month before complaints about problems at his apartments were disclosed publicly, state Rep. Hubert Vo used his government letterhead to complain to Houston police commanders about the department’s scrutiny and accuse officers of harassment. “What I am … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Marc Campos: Commentary has noticed that local Dems have been eerily quiet on the not so good run that Harris County Dem State Rep Hubert Vo has received in the Chron. There is another Chron article today plus an E-Board … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I think the fact that this story about where Tom DeLay is now is front-page material is proof that we’re in a slow news cycle. I mean, it’s always nice to be re-acquainted with old friends and all, but there … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I know, Abramoff/DeLay news seems so 2006, but still, I wanted to note this. Greenberg Traurig is in hot water in the tropical U.S. territory of Guam. The ginormous firm – 1,750 lawyers and counting — was indicted Tuesday in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Here’s something to ponder: On the same day that they ran the story about New York Governor Eliot Spitzer and his hooker problem, the Chronical also ran an editorial calling for his resignation. Nothing wrong with that, I’d say it’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

So. Governor Spitzer of New York. Prostitution ring. Doesn’t look very good, does it? Now, I think Jane asks some pretty reasonable questions about this business. Given the extreme politicization of the Bush Justice Department, I’m inclined to view this … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Remember this classic story from 2006? Just three days after being sworn in, U.S. Rep. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs wants Congress to investigate the destruction of files in her office by former staff members of her predecessor, Tom DeLay. Seven staffers walked … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Could be. In the meantime, before that happens, the guy who actually runs the DA’s email servers got himself grilled. Gary Zallar answered technical questions from U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt for more than hour about the backup capabilities of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

That’s about the most succinct way I can think of to summarize this story about the court hearing next week in which Chuck Rosenthal has to explain his email deletions or risk facing contempt of court charges. The hearing, which … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Now that he’s back in Texas, you may be wondering what the current status is of the DeLay prosecution. The Observer’s Cody Garrett has a nice summary: The case is on the docket for March 7, but that may be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Today’s Chron story provides a little more info about Attorney General Greg Abbott’s impending investigation of DA Chuck Rosenthal. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott launched an investigation Thursday into whether Harris County’s top prosecutor, Chuck Rosenthal, violated state laws by … Continue reading → Continue reading →

That didn’t take long. Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal will face a state investigation into whether campaign-related e-mails on his government computer warrant removal from office, officials said today. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s office informed county officials today … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Good. Harris County government chief Ed Emmett today called for Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s staff to conduct an independent investigation of local District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal in the wake of the disclosure of e-mails on Rosenthal’s county government account … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett is about to have a press conference in which he will discuss the DA’s office. WHO: Harris County Judge Ed Emmett WHAT: News Conference WHEN: 2 p.m., Wednesday, January 9, 2008 WHERE: Fourth Floor Media … Continue reading → Continue reading →

With all the focus on Chuck Rosenthal and his atrocious email habits and tastes, let’s take a moment to consider the lawsuit, which was actually filed against Sheriff Tommy Thomas, that started it all when the first batch of don’t-it-seem-so-innocent-now … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Let’s start with more from KHOU, since they were the first on the scene with this story. [O]ther e-mails in the district attorney’s office provide a glimpse of a possible ongoing attitude taken towards women. An e-mail from division chief … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Remember how I said it looked like things might get worse for Chuck Rosenthal? Well, they just did, and this time there’s collateral damage. 11 News has obtained hundreds of other Chuck Rosenthal e-mails, some that are racially and sexually … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Stay classy, Tom. Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay may not be in a leadership position on Capitol Hill anymore, but that doesn’t mean he can’t weigh in on the current GOP leadership. DeLay told Yeas & Nays that Republicans … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Now that there are no more appeals pending for Tom DeLay, and Travis County DA Ronnie Earle says he’s ready to go to trial, when shall we see The Erstwhile Hammer in court? Not just yet, says the presiding judge. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

After yesterday’s CCA ruling refusing for the final time to reinstate the conspiracy indictment against Tom DeLay, Travis County DA Ronnie Earle says he’s ready to go to trial. Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle said Wednesday that his office … Continue reading → Continue reading →

No story just yet, but thanks to Vince‘s news alert feeds, I can tell you that the Court of Criminal Appeals has denied the motions made by Travis County DA Ronnie Earle to reconsider its to let stand the dismissal … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Bad news for Tom DeLay. A federal grand jury has subpoenaed payroll records from the House for Ed Buckham, former chief of staff to ex-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas). The subpoena, issued by a grand jury in Washington, D.C., … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The second time is not a charm for Ronnie Earle. A judge in Travis County, for a second time, has thrown out an indictment accusing the Texas Association of Business of breaking state election law during the 2002 legislative campaigns. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Missed this from Friday. Almost five years after the Texas Association of Business secretly rounded up $1.7 million from corporations to influence the 2002 elections, a judge ruled Friday that the group and three officials must face a civil suit … Continue reading → Continue reading →

This is very interesting: In fallout from the Tom DeLay ARMPAC and Jack Abramoff scandals, an attorney claims the Washington, D.C., law office of Williams and Jensen libeled him and put his law license at risk by making repeated false … Continue reading → Continue reading →

After more than six years of the Bush Administration’s Justice Department, can anyone honestly say they’re surprised by this? For four years, U.S. Justice Department attorneys heard the horror stories: Inmates in Texas juvenile prisons were being beaten and molested … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I’ve expressed before my skepticism that Travis county DA Ronnie Earle’s request that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals reconsider its decision to let stand the dismissal of the conspiracy charge against Tom DeLay would come to anything, but Paul … Continue reading → Continue reading →

When last we checked, Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle had asked the Court of Criminal Appeals to reconsider its ruling to uphold the dismissal of the conspiracy indictment against Tom DeLay. Yesterday, Earle got an assist from an unexpected … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Back in June, when the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals upheld the lower courts’ dismissal of the conspiracy to violate the election code indictment, Travis County DA Ronnie Earle said he would ask the court to reconsider its ruling. He … Continue reading → Continue reading →