A TEXAS grand jury has indicted US Vice President Dick Cheney for conspiring to block an investigation into abuse at privately run prisons.
The three-page indictment alleges that Mr Cheney profited from the abuse because he invested $US85 million ($131 million) in a mutual fund company which holds shares of for-profit prisons.
It said this was a "direct conflict of interest'' because Mr Cheney had influence over the federal contracts awarded to the prison companies.
The indictment also accused Mr Cheney of committing "at least misdemeanour assaults'' of inmates by allowing other inmates to assault them.
The indictment further alleges that former attorney-general Alberto Gonzalez "participated by further having used his position ... to stop the investigations as to the wrongdoings which includes the assaults committed in the prison for profit in Willacy County, Texas".
Mr Cheney and Mr Gonzalez were charged with engaging in organised criminal activity.
Mr Cheney's spokeswoman declined to comment because his office had not yet received a copy of the indictment.
"I'm not going to speculate or forecast the Vice President's legal options,'' Megan Mitchell said.
"Let's wait and see if we even receive one.''
Several other related indictments were brought against a host of public officials in what one lawyer called a circus act by a local prosecutor seeking revenge in his final weeks in office.
"We look forward to having the opportunity to have an independent, competent prosecutor review the facts, and are confident that once that happens these baseless charges will be dismissed,'' said Michael Cowen, who represents Texas State Senator Eddie Lucio.
Wishful thinking. They're all going to be pardoned. All of them.
Nov-19-2008 04:22
pkcRAISTLIN
arbiter's chief minion
Registered: Jul 2002
Location:
quote:
Originally posted by josh4
Wishful thinking. They're all going to be pardoned. All of them.
why didnt they wait til after the new government arrives to lay charges then?
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Nov-19-2008 04:35
josh4
Supreme tranceaddict
Registered: Dec 2003
Location: New York City
quote:
Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
why didnt they wait til after the new government arrives to lay charges then?
Well I was speaking generally. That Texas state thing is a small blip on the screen and is probably politically motivated. First we have to see if the judge signs the papers on it. Then we have to see where it goes. It will no doubt get a lot of press but I do doubt it will go anywhere.
Regarding the pardons, Bush can pardon anybody, even if they haven't been accused of a crime. When he exits office I fully expect for him to pardon his entire crew. (Especially since Obama has specifically pledged to prosecute any wrongdoings.) So that makes this event particularly moot.
Nov-19-2008 04:41
pkcRAISTLIN
arbiter's chief minion
Registered: Jul 2002
Location:
wow, your presidential system is all screwed up :/
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Nov-19-2008 04:45
josh4
Supreme tranceaddict
Registered: Dec 2003
Location: New York City
pfft at least we're not censoring the Internet
Nov-19-2008 04:49
pkcRAISTLIN
arbiter's chief minion
Registered: Jul 2002
Location:
quote:
Originally posted by josh4
pfft at least we're not censoring the Internet
touche
the difference being of course that we can un-censor it, but you cant un-pardon
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Nov-19-2008 04:55
jerZ07002
Supreme tranceaddict
Registered: Dec 2006
Location:
quote:
Originally posted by josh4
Well I was speaking generally. That Texas state thing is a small blip on the screen and is probably politically motivated. First we have to see if the judge signs the papers on it. Then we have to see where it goes. It will no doubt get a lot of press but I do doubt it will go anywhere.
Regarding the pardons, Bush can pardon anybody, even if they haven't been accused of a crime. When he exits office I fully expect for him to pardon his entire crew. (Especially since Obama has specifically pledged to prosecute any wrongdoings.) So that makes this event particularly moot.
the president can only pardon someone for a FEDERAL criminal convinction. A president can't pardon someone for a STATE criminal convinction. Thus, if Cheney were to actually be convincted (which I find highly unlikely), only Rick Perry (Texas Governor) could pardon him, which would be highly likely considering texas is a red state and Perry is a republican.
Nov-19-2008 14:42
Zild
Ten City
Registered: Jun 2004
Location: San Antonio, US : TXTA #156
Perry would pardon them so fucking fast.
___________________
I've never been able to eat a whole baby.
Kill the women. Eat the children.
It's just one of those days where you want to bend over everyone you know and kiss their ass goodbye with a big sideways boot.
It doesn't fucking matter. You're going to get CHENEY, while in the second most powerful position in the world (first by some accounts) in a Texas courthouse defending himself? Bullshit. I'll believe it when I see it.
Nov-19-2008 17:02
LazFX
Supreme tranceaddict
Registered: Aug 2004
Location: 9th Circle
quote:
Originally posted by Zild
Perry would pardon them so fucking fast.
you know it.
Nov-19-2008 20:01
atbell
Supreme tranceaddict
Registered: May 2007
Location: Toronto, Canada
quote:
Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
touche
the difference being of course that we can un-censor it, but you cant un-pardon
