Texas: Eddie Lucio Jr.

Indictments against Vice President Dick Cheney and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez were both dismissed Monday, only hours after an indictment against state Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D-Brownsville) was also dismissed.

Presiding Judge Manual Banales said Monday that the indictments — won two weeks ago by Willacy County District Attorney Juan Angel Guerra — were improperly returned by a Willacy County grand jury.

A Texas district judge ruled Monday that Presiding Judge Manuel Bañales will continue to hear the cases involving indictments against Vice President Dick Cheney, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, state Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D-Brownsville) and other South Texas officials.

When Willacy County Defense Attorney Juan Angel Guerra failed to show up before Judge Manual Bañales in court Wednesday, a defense attorney for Dick Cheney and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez attempted to dismiss the case and asked that Guerra be held in contempt of court and face sanctions.

As it turns out, the actions of the lame-duck DA may have been justified, and Cheney’s team may have jumped the gun.

A constitutional law specialist says that Willacy County District Attorney Juan Angel Guerra has no jurisdiction over federal officials or federally run buildings.

Guerra presented charges against Vice President Dick Cheney, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, and state Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D-Brownsville) on Tuesday, indicting them for various activity related to the alleged abuse of prisoners in federal detention centers in the South Texas county.