Vice President Cheney, Former AG Alberto Gonzales, and Texas State Senator Indicted

A grand jury in Willacy County, Texas has earned the distinction of filing the first of what the Dogoods hope will be many indictments against Vice President Dick Cheney and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. The charges stem from circumstances surrounding alleged abuse of prisoners held in the south Texas county’s federal detention centers.

The Brownsville Herald reports the “multi-count” indictment accuses Cheney and Gonzales of engaging in organized criminal activity. Cheney has investments in the Vanguard Group, which holds interests in the private prison companies running federal detention centers. According to the AP, the indictment accuses Cheney of a conflict of interest and “at least misdemeanor assaults” on detainees through his complicity with the prison companies.

Gonzales is accused of using the AG’s office to halt an investigation into reported abuses at the federal detention centers.

State Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. was also indicted and charged with profiting from his public office by accepting honoraria (aka bribes) from prison management companies.

According to the Brownsville Herald, state District Judges Janet Leal, state District Judge Migdalia Lopez, The GEO Group (formerly Wackenhut Corporation), former U.S. Attorney Mervyn Mosbacher, Gus Garza and Gilberto Lozano were also indicted in relation to the case.

They all face a stream of criminal charges including abuse of office, profiting from office, and murder.