Former DA Earle’s alleged Improprieties Spice Up Silly Season
Former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle and current First Assistant DA Rosemary Lehmberg are faced with allegations which could negatively affect Lehmberg’s campaign for the Office of the District Attorney. Rick Reed, a former employee at the DA’s office and current candidate for the Office of the District Attorney, brought the issue to light recently and wants the public to know about it. The charges stem from a settlement negotiated with four indicted businesses that engaged in illegal campaign contributions. The decision to bring up this issue during election time brings to mind Senator Barack Obama, U.S. Presidential hopeful, and his reference in the recent University of Texas Debate, to the “silly season” of politics.
In 2002, the Republican Majority took control of the Texas House of Representatives, and with that takeover came an investigation into Republican campaign contributions. During this investigation Earle’s office discovered that the corporations in question tried to sway the democratic process. In Texas it is illegal for corporations to spend money on political activities except in limited circumstances.
After the discovery of these improprieties, Earle and his staff settled, albeit questionably, with the corporations. This “settlement” amounted to a $250,000 donation to an educational program “about the role of corporations in American democracy”. Many observers felt that the prosecution did, indeed have the education of the general public in mind when it decided on such a settlement.
Reed, on the other hand did not. Shortly after the settlement was reached and the case dismissed, Reed informed Earle of his disapproval of the type of settlement through e-mails citing his “grave concerns”.
As the money remains unspent, a portion of which is in a trust fund, and the rest is with the UT LBJ School of Law, it appears the information pertaining to this improper act and the maelstrom it will create is just getting started. Ah, the “silly season”…that subtle reminder to get to the polls.
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/02/22/0222dismissals.html
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