ok we know he is corrupt and completely without ethics, but here is a new log or two to throw on the fire. Public Citizen has issued a press release today alleging that Delay broke the ethics rules yet again for accepting contributions to his legal fund from lobbyists.
here is part of the
press release
Under House rule XXV (5)(c)(3), registered lobbyists are prohibited from making contributions to a member's legal defense fund. Yet Public Citizen's investigation of the contributions made to DeLay's Legal Expense Trust found three such contributions totaling $4,000:
* Jeffrey Fedorchak of Impact Strategies, who donated $2,000 between April 1 and June 30, 2003. During that period, Fedorchak was registered as a lobbyist and his clients included Servicemaster Co. and Tuolumne Utilities District, according to U.S. Senate lobbying disclosure records.
* Robert Odle Jr. of Weil Gotshal & Manges, who donated $1,000 between July 1 and Sept. 30, 2001. During that period, Odle was registered as a lobbyist for Nomura International, according to Senate records.
* Vin Weber of Clark & Weinstock, who contributed $1,000 between July 1 and Sept. 30, 2001. During that period, Weber was registered as a lobbyist and his clients included the Greek government, Microsoft and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), Senate records show.
small money yes, but the rule seems pretty clear on this issue.
"Representative DeLay should promptly return these funds, and the House ethics committee should evaluate whether this was an intentional breach of House rules," said Joan Claybrook, Public Citizen president. "Given the majority leader's enormous power, Congress must ensure that other lobbyists with business before the House aren't trying to curry favor by contributing to DeLay's legal defense."
but wait there is more:
Public Citizen also found three additional checks totaling $4,500 from Locke Liddell & Sapp and two of its lawyers. Locke Liddell & Sapp was a registered lobbying firm when those contributions were made in 2001. The firm of Becker & Poliakoff also made a $1,000 contribution in 2002, when it was a registered lobbying firm. However, it is unclear if House rules apply to firms and their non-registered employees in addition to individual, registered lobbyists.
Under House rules, donors may contribute a maximum of $5,000 per year to a legal defense fund, and contributions can be made by individuals, political action committees (PACs), and corporate and union treasuries.
Public Citizen's probe also found that two corporations involved in an ongoing Texas district attorney's investigation of alleged illegal campaign contributions into Texas state elections by PACs formed by DeLay also have contributed to DeLay's legal defense fund.
Reliant Energy Inc. and Bacardi USA are alleged to have made the illegal contributions at the heart of the Texas prosecutor's investigation. Bacardi has also been charged with making an unlawful political contribution. Public Citizen found that the two companies have contributed a total of $23,000 to help DeLay defray his legal costs.
"It's ironic that the corporations financing the majority leader's defense are the very same ones whose relationships with Mr. DeLay are being investigated," said Frank Clemente, director of Public Citizen's Congress Watch.
newsweek has already picked up on it. they must have gotten an early heads up since the press release was issued today. newsweek also did some digging, here is a bit from their article.
A Locke Liddell partner also said the firm didn't know about the House rule. In the past DeLay has been defiant when questioned about his fund-raising, calling his critics "partisan stalkers." But contacted by NEWSWEEK, Brent Perry, the trustee of DeLay's legal fund, said the checks from Weber and Locke Liddell would be returned promptly; some of the other checks cited by Public Citizen would not because they were signed by wives of the lobbyists rather than the lobbyists themselves.
their blatant disregard for the rules is quite impressive. if they dont break them straight out, they have their wives write the check. how much longer 'till he gets indicted?