For a political party that seems to hate trial lawyers, Republicans sure are anxious to hire some.
Dick “Go F— Yourself” Cheney hired a trial lawyer before speaking to federal investigators in the Plame Game scandal. George W. Bush hired one, too, for the same reason.
And now House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who tries in vain to argue that his political scandals are unimportant, has hired several trial lawyers of his own.
Facing legal challenges in Washington and Austin, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) has retained lawyers to defend him in both a Congressional ethics probe and an ongoing investigation into Texas’ 2002 legislative races.
DeLay has rehired former Rep. Ed Bethune (R-Ark.), currently a lawyer with the firm Bracewell & Patterson, to represent him against an ethics complaint filed by Rep. Chris Bell (D-Texas), DeLay aides said.
Bethune was DeLay’s lawyer in 2000 after the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee filed a civil-racketeering lawsuit against the Texas Republican, and he also defended former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) during the latter part of his ethics battles with House Democrats.
Meanwhile, in Austin, sources close to the Texas Republican said DeLay has hired two criminal-defense attorneys, Bill White and Steve Brittain, to represent him in an investigation by Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, who is probing the activities of a DeLay-founded PAC during the Texas 2002 legislative races.
So, let’s see if I have this straight: lawyers who become senators shouldn’t be vice presidential candidates, but lawyers who can save Republicans’ butts in the midst of their multiple scandals are great. Got it.
And let’s not forget, if DeLay is indicted by the Texas grand jury, he’ll almost certainly have to give up his leadership position in the House. Stay tuned.