DeLay Threatens Judges

Elected official Tom Delay (R-TX) recently tried to gain political currency by jumping on the Terry Schiavo bandwagon and telling the federal judges who refused to make a bigger mess of the idiotic affair: "The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior."

Though DeLay and his apologists might try to diminish the implications of this remark, the truth is that this is a threat. This is a threat against the safety and well-being of a federal judge and is a violation of Federal criminal statute, 18 U.S.C. §115 (a)(1)(B), which states:

Whoever threatens to assault . . . or murder, a United States judge . . . with intent to retaliate against such . . . judge . . . on account of the performance of official duties, shall be punished [by up to six years in prison]. . . .

Fortunately, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) wrote a letter to DeLay denouncing the remarks. It takes a brave citizen to speak-up against DeLay, Rove, Bush, Cheyney and the lying fundamentalists who have hijacked our nation, and I applaud Sen. Lautenberg for speaking-up.

DeLay has broken the law again, and he is not being prosecuted (again) by the right-wingers controlling the Justice Department. He is allowed to break law after law and commit ethics violations again and again, all with impunity.

If we expect men like Lautenberg to stand-up against the fundamentalists, we should thank them and let them know they do not stand alone.

Please contact Lautenberg at his website and tell him you support the action he took:

http://lautenberg.senate.gov/webform.html

April 1, 2005

Tom DeLay Majority
Leader House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Majority Leader DeLay,

I was stunned to read the threatening comments you made yesterday against Federal judges and our nation's courts of law in general. In reference to certain Federal judges, you stated: "The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior."

As you are surely aware, the family of Federal Judge Joan H. Lefkow of Illinois was recently murdered in their home. And at the state level, Judge Rowland W. Barnes and others in his courtroom were gunned down in Georgia.

Our nation's judges must be concerned for their safety and security when they are asked to make difficult decisions every day. That's why comments like those you made are not only irresponsible, but downright dangerous. To make matters worse, is it appropriate to make threats directed at specific Federal and state judges?

You should be aware that your comments yesterday may violate a Federal criminal statute, 18 U.S.C. §115 (a)(1)(B). That law states:

"Whoever threatens to assault . . . or murder, a United States judge . . . with intent to retaliate against such . . . judge . . . on account of the performance of official duties, shall be punished [by up to six years in prison]"

Threats against specific Federal judges are not only a serious crime, but also beneath a Member of Congress. In my view, the true measure of democracy is how it dispenses justice. Your attempt to intimidate judges in America not only threatens our courts, but our fundamental democracy as well.

Federal judges, as well as state and local judges in our nation, are honorable public servants who make difficult decisions every day. You owe them -- and all Americans -- an apology for your reckless statements.

Sincerely,
Frank R. Lautenberg

We really must take action. Please contact Lautenberg and your own elected officials and tell them you are outraged by DeLay's continued criminal activity. What have you got to lose?

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Thanks to Karen for sending this along.

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