#SB5 Time-Stamp Change to be Investigated by Public Integrity Unit

[TexasTowelie]

Last edited Sun Jun 30, 2013, 06:49 PM - Edit history (1)

The Public Integrity Unit is investigating the timestamp change that occurred at the end of Tuesday's filibuster against SB 5, KXAN reported today.

In the first minutes of Wednesday morning, it appeared clear that Senate Bill 5 had failed by failing to pass before midnight. The Senate's online record showed that the vote had taken place on 6/26, Wednesday. Then, the Texas Senate's legislative record website went down, and when it reappeared the vote was mysteriously recorded as taking place on 6/25. It then switched back to 6/26 and Lt. Gov. Dewhurst announced the vote had been too late, and the special session was over. Thousands of protesters, and millions of supporters around the country, celebrated.

But why was the record changed, if only temporarily?

After receiving numerous complaints about the change, Texas' Public Integrity Unit is now investigating this question. And if they find the documents were intentionally tampered with, well, that's a felony.

More at http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/13725/sb5-timestamp-change-to-be-investigated-by-public-integrity-unit .



Cross-posted General Discussion.

[TexasProgresive]

1. Good-you need to cross post this in GD

This is important to more than Texans. Thanks for the update.

[TexasTowelie]

5. Done!

I had to take a a catnip catnap for a few minutes.

[TexasProgresive]

6. Just so you don't put that catnip where the sun don't shine!

Sunday afternoon naps are good especially with a kitty. My old guy, Angel Kitty can't get comfortable anymore in the recliner-so its sleep alone-what a bummer.

[Gman]

2. I promise you: They will "conclude" it was a computer glitch

that was fixed. that's why the date was changed to 6/25. This will be a complete FARCE.

Either that or they will throw some intern under the bus.

[monmouth3]

3. And if it's that female clerk, she must have received orders from someone..Dewhurst perhaps?..n/t

[Downwinder]

4. Like a Golf Tournament

it is good to have cameras on the Legislature.

Should also have a call-in number for viewers to report irregularities.

[Warpy]

7. Anything that gets that schmuck Dewhurst some jail time

and his ass out of politics is a good thing. I hope hey succeed.

[sheshe2]

8. Kick and Rec!!!!!

YES~

[sonias]

9. Excellent!

I believe that they should be held accountable for fraud!

[mbperrin]

10. Reallllllllyyyyy good news!

Just the investigation is a bonus!

[onestepforward]

11. WooHoo! I've been anxiously awaiting this!

I wasn't familiar with the Public Integrity Unit, so I looked them up:

http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/public-integrity-unit/about/

The Public Integrity Unit is a state-funded division of the Travis County District Attorney's Office. It investigates public corruption, insurance fraud, and motor fuels tax fraud.

The Travis County DA holds the chief responsibility for enforcing the government and election code statewide. The unit was created under the leadership of Ronnie Earle, who served as the Travis County DA for three decades until his retirement in 2008. Earle captured national attention with his investigations into U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, and became the poster child for what Republicans view as the unit’s politically motivated prosecutions. He told the Texas Tribune that he started the unit in the early ‘80s because “it made no sense to me to see an aggravated robbery case next to a case about a state employee cheating on travel vouchers.” At the time, Earle says the investigation of government crimes was “mostly left to the newspapers” because the Travis County DA spent most of its time fighting street crime.

Dismantling the unit is a perennial platform plank of the Texas Republican Party, and numerous members of the GOP, included DeLay and Hutchison, have criticized what they view as its politically motivated prosecutions. According to Earle, between 1978 and when he retired, in 2008, he prosecuted 19 elected officials, just five of whom were Republicans.
-snip-

They shouldn't be able to simply walk away for tampering with governmental documents.

[TxDemChem]

12. I've been anxiously awaiting this as well

However, I really hope someone is held accountable. That change was no glitch or accident.