TRAVIS DA: Corporate Lobbyists Are Trying To By DA’s Election To End Prosecution Of Tom DeLay

Capitol Annex has learned that Travis County District Attorney Candidate Mindy Montford (D-Austin), daughter of AT&T lobbyist and former Texas State Senator John Montford, is putting the squeeze on corporate lobbyists–especially those with ties to the controversial Texas Association of Business–to fund her primary campaign and will.

Sources also tell Capitol Annex that corporate lobbyists contributing to Montford’s campaign are doing so in the hopes that, if elected, she will drop the state’s prosecution of indicted former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Sugar Land).

In addition, sources advise Capitol Annex that Montford’s campaign has received a significant amount of money from AT&T lobbyists, associated PACs and ‘friends’ of the telecom giant. (It is, of course, also worth noting that AT&T was the leader in money given to House Speaker Tom Craddick and his PAC following the 80th Texas Legislature, which we told you about here).

Given the Travis County District Attorney’s seat is a lock for whatever candidate wins the Democratic Party’s nomination (no Republicans filed), groups like the Texas Association of Business and the business lobby have a lot riding on who wins the nomination.

Why? Because the Travis County District Attorney’s office is empowered by Texas law to prosecute public officials across the state who may break the law. Coming with this territory also are prosecutions of political action committees and groups like the Texas Association of Business that may break campaign finance laws.

Earle’s office indicted the Texas Association of Business for taking illegal political contributions from political corporations–including AT&T back in 2005.

To boot, Dick DeGuerin, Tom DeLay’s lawyer, has already crowed that he hopes a new DA will drop the case against Tom DeLay:

Houston criminal defense lawyer Dick DeGuerin represented both Hutchison and DeLay in their battles with Earle. DeGuerin said he hopes a new district attorney will review the case against DeLay and drop it.

It’s also rumored that DA Ronnie Earle himself is going to come out swinging on this one and let the world know what is going on–and how corporate lobbyists are trying to buy the Travis County DA’s race.

It is expected that Earle will say something about this in a press conference with First Assistant DA Rosemary Lehmberg, which is set for 10 a.m. Monday. I’m not sure if Earle will be endorsing Lehmberg or just saying something about corporate lobbyists trying to buy this race, but either way, it’ll be an important press conference.

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Technorati Tags AT&T, Mindy Montford, Ronnie Earle, Rosemary Lehmberg, Texas Association of Business, Tom DeLay

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