The DeLay Prosecutor Drops Charges in Exchange for Cash
From National Review we learn that the DeLay prosecutor dropped charges against several corporations and proclaimed their good reputation in exchange for cash for charities he favors:
Ronnie Earle, the Texas prosecutor who has indicted associates of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay in an ongoing campaign-finance investigation, dropped felony charges against several corporations indicted in the probe in return for the corporations’ agreement to make five- and six-figure contributions to one of Earle’s pet causes….
Sears was not dead set against paying some money into some sort of project, but company officials were determined that it not go to Stanford, which, Sears believed, would produce an anti-corporation project. When Sears raised its objections, Earle was adamant that Stanford get the money. In response, Sears suggested an alternative, saying it might be interested in contributing some amount of money to the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. Even though the university was in his own back yard, Earle still wanted Stanford.
The two sides agreed to talk yet again. The impasse was resolved when, a short time later, Earle changed his mind and agreed that the money — the final figure would be $100,000 — could go to the University of Texas….
In return, Earle stipulated that the alleged offense charged in the indictment “appears to be restricted to a single incident within the State of Texas and does not constitute a continuing course of conduct.” Earle also conceded that Sears had no intent to break the law and “has a history of good citizenship and high ethical standards.”…
Sears officials, the sources say, had already cooperated fully, telling Earle everything they knew about Sears’ lone contribution to TRMPAC. In addition, the sources say, Sears had no knowledge of any illegal activity on the part of anyone else. The implication that Sears had turned state’s evidence and might finger other companies involved in similarly illegal acts — which, of course, Sears denied it had committed — was, the sources contend, simply wrong.
This shouldn’t be allowed. It is a clear invitation for prosecutors to harass companies or people with spurious charges that generate bad publicity, just to extort money from them. Or, if the defendant is actually guilty, it allows them to get off without much punishment and with a falsely clean reputation, things the prosecutor is willing to give up in exchange for money.