Texas two-step

Politics: Ralph Reed escapes prosecution; Tom DeLay associate may not | John Dawson

Ralph Reed will avoid criminal prosecution in Texas, but the district attorney's office investigating the candidate for lieutenant governor in Georgia said Mr. Reed escaped on a technicality. According to prosecutors in Travis County, Texas, Mr. Reed couldn't be prosecuted for allegedly lobbying without a license in Texas in 2001 because the law requires the crime to be prosecuted within two years of the incident. "Without evidence involving lobbying activities within the last two years, I cannot justify initiating a formal criminal investigation given the statute of limitations," Travis County attorney David Escamilla said.

A statement released by Mr. Escamilla's office continued: "The information presented by the complainants raise legitimate questions concerning Mr. Reed's activities and possible violation of Texas law."