Here are some facts regarding my opponent's platform. Back in September 2005, Esparza was subpoenaed to testify in the Nancy Hollebeke Federal Civil rights Trial. Esparza was to come explain to the jury why he had Nancy Hollebeke thrown in jail when she reported that El Paso Police Officers Albert Machorro, Jr. (whose father works for Esparza) and Jose/Joe Garcia had raped her. The Hollebeke case had been set for September 2005 since June 2005. The judge was adamant that the trial was going on the given September date.
Monday, the first day of trial, Esparza's attorney, the county attorney's office, showed up in federal court asking the court to release Esparza from his subpoena. Esparza wanted to fly to Corpus Christi to attend a banquet to pick up an award. The Court said Esparza could go to the banquet. (Some special treatment there. Don't try this yourselves at home. You won't like the results and it won't matter that you had bought your tickets a year ago for your 50th wedding anniversay and your spouse was dying.) On top of it all, it was hurricane weather in Corpus Christi that week. Rather than answer for his conduct in Ms. Hollebeke's case, Esparza arranged for his friends in a private non-governmental group of prosecutors to give him a party and an award the very week of the Hollebeke trial way across the entire state of Texas. He couldn't have gotten further away. Ever since, Esparza has spent quite a bit of time announcing to the public that the "State Bar of Texas" had named him the "Prosecutor of the Year." He even has a banner to prove it which he has hung over the mezannine on the second floor of the court house. Jurors coming into the court house see it when they walk in and look up.
During the KVIA televised debate last week and at forums around town, Esparza regularly refers to his "prosecutor of the year award." He says he is very proud of it. He cannot answer to the voter as to why he hasn't noticed the rampant public corruption and investigated or prosecuted it. He can't answer why he has taken money and given money to the main targets of the FBI public corruption probe. He cannot answer why he had Nancy Hollebeke and former Deputy Police Chief George DeAngelis thrown in jail for whistle-blowing on corruption. But what he does do is pull out the "Prosecutor of the Year award." He thinks he can change the subject with it and that it makes him look honorable and legitimate. He wants the public to think that the State Bar of Texas, a revered governmental entity charged with, amongst other things licensing attorneys and monitoring their conduct, selected him for the award. He has told people that the State Bar chose him above all others for the award. It is a center piece in his stump speech. He clings to this award.
Unfortunately it is not true. Attached to the bottom of this blog is a letter/Open Records Request from Stuart Leeds to the State Bar of Texas asking them about the award. Also attached is a response letter from the State Bar saying that it had nothing to do with this award except to pay for half its cost. The State Bar letter said: "The Criminal Justice Section of the State Bar's only involvement in the process is to provide payment for half the cost of the award." The State Bar letter says that the "Texas County and District Attorney's Association" determined who got the award. What is the Texas County and District Attorney's Association? It is a private organization of which Esparza is a member and past office holder. It is not governmental, despite its official sounding name. In fact, when we contacted them about getting information behind the award, Mr. Robert Kepple, its drector told us they were a private group, not governmental and therefore not subject to the Open Records Act and Texas Freedom of Information Act and did not have to give us any of the requested information.
Stuart Leeds had asked for a copy of the nomination form nominating Esparza, who else was in the running for it, who voted, what was the vote count, what were the criteria for the award and for any documentation received from the El Paso County District Attorney's Office and any El Pasoans in support of Esparza for this award. The State Bar responded it knew nothing about the award or its process when it wrote, "after a review of its records the State Bar has determined that it has no additional information responsive to your request."
After 16 years, Esparza is left with retrying the biggest case of his career, the David Renteria case which he personally botched the first time, a reputation for trampeling on the United States Constitution, being a lawsuit magnet, a court of inquiry to probe corruption in his own office and one bogus award he drags around town hoping that the people will be fooled.
As I have said many times, be very careful of District Attorneys who lie about things big and small, even awards. Please see for yourselves and look at the attachment below.
Monday, the first day of trial, Esparza's attorney, the county attorney's office, showed up in federal court asking the court to release Esparza from his subpoena. Esparza wanted to fly to Corpus Christi to attend a banquet to pick up an award. The Court said Esparza could go to the banquet. (Some special treatment there. Don't try this yourselves at home. You won't like the results and it won't matter that you had bought your tickets a year ago for your 50th wedding anniversay and your spouse was dying.) On top of it all, it was hurricane weather in Corpus Christi that week. Rather than answer for his conduct in Ms. Hollebeke's case, Esparza arranged for his friends in a private non-governmental group of prosecutors to give him a party and an award the very week of the Hollebeke trial way across the entire state of Texas. He couldn't have gotten further away. Ever since, Esparza has spent quite a bit of time announcing to the public that the "State Bar of Texas" had named him the "Prosecutor of the Year." He even has a banner to prove it which he has hung over the mezannine on the second floor of the court house. Jurors coming into the court house see it when they walk in and look up.
During the KVIA televised debate last week and at forums around town, Esparza regularly refers to his "prosecutor of the year award." He says he is very proud of it. He cannot answer to the voter as to why he hasn't noticed the rampant public corruption and investigated or prosecuted it. He can't answer why he has taken money and given money to the main targets of the FBI public corruption probe. He cannot answer why he had Nancy Hollebeke and former Deputy Police Chief George DeAngelis thrown in jail for whistle-blowing on corruption. But what he does do is pull out the "Prosecutor of the Year award." He thinks he can change the subject with it and that it makes him look honorable and legitimate. He wants the public to think that the State Bar of Texas, a revered governmental entity charged with, amongst other things licensing attorneys and monitoring their conduct, selected him for the award. He has told people that the State Bar chose him above all others for the award. It is a center piece in his stump speech. He clings to this award.
Unfortunately it is not true. Attached to the bottom of this blog is a letter/Open Records Request from Stuart Leeds to the State Bar of Texas asking them about the award. Also attached is a response letter from the State Bar saying that it had nothing to do with this award except to pay for half its cost. The State Bar letter said: "The Criminal Justice Section of the State Bar's only involvement in the process is to provide payment for half the cost of the award." The State Bar letter says that the "Texas County and District Attorney's Association" determined who got the award. What is the Texas County and District Attorney's Association? It is a private organization of which Esparza is a member and past office holder. It is not governmental, despite its official sounding name. In fact, when we contacted them about getting information behind the award, Mr. Robert Kepple, its drector told us they were a private group, not governmental and therefore not subject to the Open Records Act and Texas Freedom of Information Act and did not have to give us any of the requested information.
Stuart Leeds had asked for a copy of the nomination form nominating Esparza, who else was in the running for it, who voted, what was the vote count, what were the criteria for the award and for any documentation received from the El Paso County District Attorney's Office and any El Pasoans in support of Esparza for this award. The State Bar responded it knew nothing about the award or its process when it wrote, "after a review of its records the State Bar has determined that it has no additional information responsive to your request."
After 16 years, Esparza is left with retrying the biggest case of his career, the David Renteria case which he personally botched the first time, a reputation for trampeling on the United States Constitution, being a lawsuit magnet, a court of inquiry to probe corruption in his own office and one bogus award he drags around town hoping that the people will be fooled.
As I have said many times, be very careful of District Attorneys who lie about things big and small, even awards. Please see for yourselves and look at the attachment below.
on February 6, 2008, 6:04 pm
Every where illusions.
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