D.A. SAYS HOUSE SPEAKER BONNEN ‘WILL NOT BE CHARGED’
The Brazoria County District Attoney says Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen won’t face criminal charges.
Bonnen was recorded offering media credentials in exchange for help unseating several incumbent members of the state house, including three from the Brazos Valley.
In a two-page statement, Brazoria County DA Jeri Yenne detailed her decision to investigate the secretly recorded meeting by Empower Texans CEO Michael Quinn Sullivan with Bonnen and former Texas House GOP caucus chairman Dustin Burrows.
The recording, included Bonnen offering Sullivan media credentials in exchange for help defeating Republican House Members considered not conservative enough, in the upcoming 2020 election.”
Those targeted members included John Raney of Bryan and Kyle Kacal of College Station.
Yenne said the recording raised the issue of whether Bonnen committed crimes including: Bribery or Solicitation of a Gift by a Public Servant. She concluded that, “As repugnant as Bonnen’s actions and statements are”, she does not believe there is sufficient evidence from to warrant a criminal prosecution.
Yenne also says she considers Bonnen’s comments, “disappointing and disturbing.”
Bonnen has said he will not seek re-election in 2020.
This smells like the swamp in DC. Different set of rules than the rest of us. The DA should be ashamed.
And we want our children to learn about accountability for their actions. This sets a fine example. And it certainly gives credibility to citizens saying, “ why should I vote, it makes no difference”. I look forward to the day when honesty, good moral character and devotion to selfless public service return to state government.
Yenne’s stand is wrong!! Your post is absolutely true!