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August 11, 2014      12:59 PM

Flynn says there is blame to go around in Wallace Hall saga

Co-Chair of Transparency committee faults Hall and the UT System, but also credits Hall for pointing to some things that merit more study

The Republican Co-Chairman of the committee drafting articles of impeachment against UT System Regent Wallace Hall on Monday said Hall’s behavior has been “absolutely inexcusable” and he sarcastically called critics of the committee “expert.” Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Van, said he simply wanted to clear the air because “the media is often the worst source of accurate information concerning sensitive issues.”

In a letter to the Texas House GOP Caucus marked "CONFIDENTIAL" and obtained by Quorum Report, Flynn said he has “been impressed by the vast amount of expert analysis provided by various blog pundits who seek to assume fact, create truth and tout their understanding of state law and statute as it pertains to this historic, unprecedented, investigation.”

Flynn said those “self-interested experts and blogging elite” have “provided amusing cynicism with their expert analysis of failed transparency and corruption,” but he added “nothing about these proceedings have been amusing and we have fought hard to maintain the highest of legal and ethical standards.”

The committee was not formed for the purpose of investigating Hall, Flynn noted. “Prior to Regent Hall being a household name, the committee was focused on passing two pieces of significant bipartisan transparency legislation, which I authored, as well as investigating issues surrounding CPRIT and other agency discrepancies including executive salaries and contracting,” Flynn wrote.

By Harvey Kronberg and Scott Braddock