First Grand Jury Declined to Indict DeLay

[hang a left]

First Grand Jury Declined to Indict DeLay

By SUZANNE GAMBOA
The Associated Press
Wednesday, October 5, 2005; 1:22 PM

WASHINGTON -- A grand jury in Texas declined to indict former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and two of his associates last week before another grand jury indicted them on money laundering charges.

"We have inquired carefully into the case" and "failed to find a bill of indictment against him," the grand jury said. A judge then issued an order of "no-bill" for DeLay and his associates Jim Ellis and John Colyandro.


Representative Tom Delay, R-Tex., talks to reporters on Capitol Hill in this Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005 file photo, after resigning as House Majority Leader following his indictment by a Texas grand jury on conspiracy charges. A Texas grand jury indicted DeLay on a new charge of money laundering Monday, less than a week after another grand jury leveled a conspiracy charge that forced DeLay to temporarily step down as House majority leader. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook, FILE)
Representative Tom Delay, R-Tex., talks to reporters on Capitol Hill in this Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005 file photo, after resigning as House Majority Leader following his indictment by a Texas grand jury on conspiracy charges. A Texas grand jury indicted DeLay on a new charge of money laundering Monday, less than a week after another grand jury leveled a conspiracy charge that forced DeLay to temporarily step down as House majority leader. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook, FILE) (Dennis Cook - AP)

Copies of the no-bill do not contain the alleged charges or offense dates, according to the Travis County district clerk's office.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/05/AR2005100501243.html

[Kablooie]

1. Well, it's nice to know that he's such an honorable fellow.

Bluh.

[sandrakae]

2. They were probably threatened.

[AlCzervik]

3. You never hear about the grand juries that don't indict! Oh--nevermind.

[HardWorkingDem]

4. So what? This happens all the time....

modifications can be made and new evidence submitted. If the Grand Jurors were polled and provided insight into why an indictment wasn't made, then the prosecutors could use this information to better press for a later indictment.

[ET Awful]

5. So . . . two out of three grand juries handed down indictments . . .

works for me.

[shance]

6. Ronnie Earle wouldn't have brought the charges if they werent iron clad.

Intimidation?

[Kablooie]

7. Intimation of intimidation?

[quaoar]

8. More from the AP story

The sources, who only commented anonymously because of grand jury secrecy, said Travis County prosecutor Ronnie Earle became visibly angry when the grand jurors last week signed a document declining to indict, known as a “no bill.”

One source said the sole evidence Earle presented was a DeLay interview with the prosecutor, in which DeLay said he was generally aware of activities of his associates. He is charged in an alleged money laundering scheme to funnel corporate money to Texas legislative candidates in violation of state law.

The source said that Earle tried to convince the jurors that if DeLay “didn’t say, ’Stop it,’ he gave his tacit approval.”

The mood was unpleasant,” another source said, describing Earle’s reaction.