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Texas grand jury indicts Cheney, Gonzales
A grand jury in South Texas indicted US Vice President Dick Cheney and former attorney General Alberto Gonzales on Tuesday for "organised criminal activity" relating to the alleged abuse of inmates in private prisons.
- Agencies
- Published: 08:06 November 19, 2008
- US Vice President Dick Cheney was on Tuesday indicted for organised crimes relating to alleged abuse of inmates in private prisons.
- Image Credit: Reuters
Houston: A grand jury in South Texas indicted US Vice President Dick Cheney and former attorney General Alberto Gonzales on Tuesday for "organised criminal activity" relating to the alleged abuse of inmates in private prisons.
The indictment has not been seen by a judge, who could dismiss it.
The grand jury in Willacy County, in the Rio Grande Valley near the US-Mexico border, said Cheney is "profiteering from depriving human beings of their liberty," according to a copy of the indictment obtained by Reuters reporters.
The indictment cites a "money trail" of Cheney's ownership in prison-related enterprises including the Vanguard Group, which owns an interest in private prisons in south Texas.
Former attorney general Gonzales used his position to "stop the investigations as to the wrong doings" into assaults in county prisons, the indictment said.
Cheney's office declined comment. "We have not received any indictments. I can't comment on something we have not received," said Cheney's spokeswoman Megan Mitchell.
The indictment, overseen by county District Attorney Juan Guerra, cites the case of Gregorio De La Rosa, who died on April 26, 2001, inside a private prison in Willacy County.
The grand jury wrote it made its decision "with great sadness," but said they had no other choice but to indict Cheney and Gonzales "because we love our country."
Texas is the home state of US President George W. Bush.
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