Sears Cuts Deal to Cooperate with DeLay Investigation
By Byron LaMasters
The AP reports:
Prosecutors have agreed to drop an illegal campaign contribution charge against Sears, Roebuck and Co. in exchange for the company's cooperation with a state investigation of contributions to a Republican political action committee.
A Travis County judge signed off on the agreement today.
Sears was accused of making a $25,000 donation to Texans for a Republican Majority, a political action committee with ties to U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, during the 2002 legislative campaign. The use of corporate money for political purposes is illegal in Texas.
Sears was one of eight corporations accused of giving money to the PAC. Prosecutors previously dropped charges against Livermore, Calif.-based Diversified Collections Services, Inc. under a similar agreement. [...]
The agreement calls for Sears to cooperate with Texas "in its prosecution and investigation of any other person for any offense related to the corporate contribution" that Sears made.
The agreement also said that Sears has certified that it has enacted additional internal policies and adopted a plan to strengthen its policy against making illegal political contributions in any state. The agreement also said Sears will modify its company Web site to provide for public access and disclosure of corporate contributions made by Sears.
In addition, O'Leary said Sears will contribute $100,000 to the University of Texas for a campaign finance law awareness program.
I wonder what the good folks at Sears have to tell the state of Texas about their good friend Tom DeLay? We shall see, but at least for now, it's nice to see that UT gets something out of the deal.
More at Kos.
Posted by Byron LaMasters at December 31, 2004 01:01 AM
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