[Mb-civic] In Texas, The Hammer Runs Into an Anvil - Washington Post

[William Swiggard]

In Texas, The Hammer Runs Into an Anvil
DeLay Prosecutor Says Case Isn't Personal

By Juliet Eilperin and Mark Leibovich
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, October 2, 2005; Page A01

AUSTIN -- Ronnie Earle, the Texas prosecutor vilified by Rep. Tom DeLay 
as a "rogue district attorney" and an "unabashed partisan zealot," has 
heard worse.

There was the time, for instance, that a prominent Texas Democrat vowed 
to murder him.

"He would hold all these press conferences and say terrible things about 
me," Earle said, referring to Bob Bullock, the future lieutenant 
governor whom Earle investigated for allegedly misusing government 
resources in the 1970s.

"I know at least twice people took guns away from him when he said he 
was going to kill me."

Earle, a Democrat, was laughing as he recounted the story in the Travis 
County district attorney's office last week. And like many sagas in 
Earle's career, the Bullock episode comes with a footnote.

Earle couldn't persuade the grand jury to indict Bullock, who was then 
the state's comptroller and struggling with a drinking problem. But 
years later, once Bullock had sobered up, the two men were recounting 
old times at Bullock's kitchen table.

"You know years ago when you investigated me?" Earle recalled Bullock 
telling him. "I was guilty as hell."

It's unlikely that Earle will be reminiscing over a kitchen table 
anytime soon with DeLay, the powerful Texas Republican with the nickname 
"The Hammer," whom he indicted last week. DeLay, whom Earle charged with 
conspiring to funnel illegal corporate campaign contributions into the 
state's 2002 legislative elections, has been forced to temporarily 
abdicate his post as House majority leader.

But one can see why Earle loves telling the Bullock story. It vindicates 
Earle's position, at least in his own retelling (Bullock died in 1999). 
It also exemplifies his willingness to target swaggering political 
figures, regardless of party.

A recurring theme among Earle's critics over the years -- and a 
centerpiece of DeLay's attacks -- has been that Earle courts media 
attention too aggressively. "During his investigation," DeLay said, "he 
has gone out of his way to give several media interviews in his office. 
The only days he actually comes into his office, I'm told." These 
critiques gained resonance last week when the National Review reported 
that Earle had allowed a film crew extensive access to his office while 
he worked on the DeLay case.

Explaining his cooperation with the media, Earle places it in the 
broader context of his mission. "Justice depends on the law," he said. 
"The law depends on democracy, democracy depends on free elections and 
free elections depend on freedom of the press. I see it as all of a piece."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/01/AR2005100101471.html?nav=hcmodule
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.islandlists.com/pipermail/mb-civic/attachments/20051002/91b71cd8/attachment.htm