… of “criminal conspiracy” in Travis County, Texas … Ronnie Earl, prosecutor, will give a statement later. Perhaps two more associates of Delay face more charges. (CNN reporting on TV.)
Update [2005-9-28 13:13:55 by susanhu]: MSNBC is carrying Scott McClellan press briefing live. You can also watch live via the White House video.
Typing as reporters talk (Joe Johns and, yech, Darrin Kagin): “… about handling of political corporate money … county doesn’t permit candidates to take corporate money and run for office … indictment of three Delay associates … people who are supporters have said again and again that if an indictment were brought against Delay, it would be ludicrous, just politics, and it would be thrown out … One Delay attorney William White, a Democrat, was at the courthouse. Delay believes he is a political target. Ronnie Earl is out for his own political gain.” (Hey, CNN, want to give the other side of this story?)
Jeffrey Toobin on now: “This is immensely serious. … under the rules of the House he has to step down as Majority Leader … enormously significant … he faces at best the distraction and at worse jail time… He wiill be arraigned and then they will start pre-trial motions and set trial date … there were indictments last year and those people haven’t gone to trial yet … this will be a SLOW process … he has to step down as Majority Leader until this is resolved, and this could take a year … THE STRATEGY here is to get the others already indicted to FLIP on Delay … he does have the argument that this is a political vendetta … ”
Joe Johns again: Delay’s chief of staff confirms that Delay has been notified of indictment. Mr. Delay customarily has a news conference off camera but he cancelled that very suddenly yesterday, adding to speculation there’d be an indictment.
Indicted and soon-to-be former Majority Leader Tom Delay walks with his best friend Pres. George Bush. (Thanks to PaulUCLA for the photo.)
