Category Archives: Scandalized!

Another day, another scandal. David Safavian, who was chief of procurement policy in the Bush administration’s Office of Management and Budget until late last week, was arrested Monday on charges of making false statements and obstructing a federal investigation. Safavian … Continue reading → Continue reading →

More indictments for TRMPACers Jim Ellis and John Colyandro. Jim Ellis, who heads Americans for a Republican Majority, and John Colyandro, former executive director of Texans for a Republican Majority, already are facing charges of money laundering in the case. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I’d heard a rumor that this was coming down, though to be honest I thought they’d be indicting people instead of the organizations. The Texas Association of Business and Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee have been indicted … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Tom DeLay’s buddy Jack Abramoff has begun one of his tours through the criminal justice system. Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff, a key figure in ethics investigations involving U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, pleaded not guilty Monday to charges he … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Missed this last week, but fortunately the Clean Up Texas Politics blog caught it. A lawsuit against the Texas Association of Business has been expanded to include several corporate donors, most of them insurance companies, that financed the association’s 2002 … Continue reading → Continue reading →

What do you give the man who has everything? A contribution to his top secret legal defense trust fund, of course. Since last year’s indictments, [Jim Ellis, who runs DeLay’s Americans for a Republican Majority, and John Colyandro, the executive … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Lobbyist tied to DeLay indicted on fraud charges Lobbyist Jack Abramoff, a key figure in investigations involving House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, was indicted today by a federal grand jury on fraud charges arising from a 2000 deal to buy … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I made a note to comment on this story about the $35 million grant from the Texas Enterprise Fund to biotech firm Lexicon on Monday, but managed to not get around to it. My bad. Let’s do a little catch-up. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The money laundering charges against three of Tom DeLay’s cronies have survived another motion to dismiss. Judge Bob Perkins denied arguments from John Colyandro and Jim Ellis that the charges were based on an unconstitutionally vague law and that the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Rick Casey has seen the correspondence between State Rep. Corbin Van Arsdale and the TX Friends of Time Warner Cable PAC, and he writes the response that Van Arsdale should have gotten. Bravo. Continue reading →

Apparently, State Rep. Corbin Van Arsdale is one of those people who really can’t take no for an answer. Van Arsdale, R-Tomball, had requested a campaign contribution from TX Friends of Time Warner Cable PAC in a July 19 letter. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

In the Pink and Drive Democracy were on this yesterday: Documents which were ordered to be released by the Texas Association of Business as part of litigation against it have led to the identity of many of its secret corporate … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Money laundering: Still illegal. State District Judge Bob Perkins today said he believes two officials with Texans for a Republican Majority should stand trial on felony charges of money laundering. The judge ruled that the state election code is constitutional … Continue reading → Continue reading →

If you’ve been feeling lost and adrift since the House Ethics Committee went silent, fear not for their return may be imminent. A partisan dispute that stalled a House investigation of Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, moved closer to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Here’s our first look at the contribution records that the Texas Association of Business didn’t want us to see. Documents released in a civil lawsuit Friday show that Texas Association of Business officials were trying to influence the outcome of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Sometimes it takes a middle-aged white guy to put things into perspective. This week, the Texas governor got caught saying “Adios, Mofo.” This line will follow Perry around like a dog after a ham sandwich. Patrick Henry said, “Give me … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Rick Perry, hipster? Hey, it could happen. Perry’s open-mic gaffe caused a lot of people to take notice. Some were outraged, some pretended to be outraged, and some said, “Dang, who knew our governor knew such a raunchy term?” “I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

This is more funny than anything else – Rick Perry said a naughty word to a local reporter. We were trying to get the governor to give us details about his education plan. He’s releasing it today, and he didn’t … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Nick Lampson is calling on supporters to send a message to the GOP Congressional leadership urging them to appoint an independent counsel to investigate current allegations against Tom DeLay. Ethics Committee Chair “Doc” Hastings has come under fire lately because … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Here’s a story from the weekend that deserves some attention. Gov. Rick Perry is lending his endorsement to an organization established by two indicted associates of U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay that is promoting amending the Texas Constitution to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Here’s the Chron story on yesterday’s ruling by the Texas Supreme Court that the Texas Association of Business must disclose information about how it raised money in 2002. The Supreme Court, without comment, lifted a stay it had issued on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Also from the Quorum Report: TEXAS SUPREME COURT DENIES BILL HAMMOND’S WRIT OF MANDAMUS IN 2002 ELECTION CIVIL TRIAL Had sought to avoid answering specific questions about Texas Asssociation of Business contributors posed by plaintiffs in civil discovery Questions must … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I’m sure Mary Denny is all aquiver over this announcement by State Attorney General Greg Abbott. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today announced his office’s first indictments for alleged voter fraud in Texas, returned in separate cases by grand juries … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Once again, Lou Dubose advances the ball on things scandalicious and DeLay-related, this time documenting a political fundraiser at the White House involving disgraced lobbyist and DeLay crony Jack Abramoff and should-be-disgraced conservative activist Grover Norquist. Read and enjoy. Some … Continue reading → Continue reading →

This is what I get for being too drained from watching the Lost season finale to tune into Law and Order: Criminal Intent on its special night. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay accused NBC Thursday of slurring his name by … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Chris Bell has released the following statement regarding the TRMPAC ruling: “Judge Hart’s ruling provides a good faith basis for the House Ethics Committee to now investigate Tom DeLay’s involvement with TRMPAC. The committee originally chose to hold off taking … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The first domino has fallen. The treasurer of a political committee formed by U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay violated Texas election code by not reporting hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions and expenditures, a civil judge ruled … Continue reading → Continue reading →

This is precisely the sort of tut-tutting I was talking about. Earle’s attendance and remarks attacking DeLay at a Democratic fund-raiser last week in Dallas damaged the credibility of his investigation with a stunning display of prosecutorial impropriety. […] In … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I’m not going to claim it was a smart idea for Ronnie Earle to give a speech at a fundraiser for a brand-new Democratic PAC. I mean, it’s a little hard for me to see why there’s anything scandalous in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

State District Judge Bob Perkins has heard the arguments from lawyers for Jim Ellis and John Colyandro that charges against them stemming from the TRMPAC corporate fundraising of 2002 should be dismissed, and will issue his ruling on June 27. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

DeLay associates John Colyandro and Jim Ellis are in court to ask that charges against them be dismissed. DeLay associates John Colyandro and Jim Ellis are scheduled to ask state District Judge Bob Perkins, a Democrat, to throw out the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Since we first heard the name “Jack Abramoff”, there have been plenty of stories which have shown him to be a sleazy and unethical greedhead. You can add this one, which Steve compared to a “third-rate episode of The Sopranos” … Continue reading → Continue reading →

So there’s another poll of CD22 which shows Tom DeLay’s approval numbers are in the drink: SurveyUSA asked 548 registered voters in the 22nd congressional district several questions about the embattled republican’s performance. In general, do you approve or disapprove … Continue reading → Continue reading →

It’s pretty sweet to see the Republicans in the House retreat on yet another special rule they implemented to coddle and swaddle Tom DeLay, isn’t it? “I’m willing to step back,” [House Speaker Denny] Hastert said after a closed-door meeting … Continue reading → Continue reading →