12 Indicted in Ongoing Pa. Capital Political Corruption Probe
In a major political corruption case that is still being investigated, the Pennsylvania attorney general has announced charges against 12 Democratic insiders in the state’s capital of Harrisburg, including a former House Democratic leader and a current lawmaker, and indicates that more are in the pipeline.
“The scandal littered with allegations of sexual trysts, politics and cover-ups is believed to be the biggest set of charges emanating from a public corruption investigation of the General Assembly in memory,” reports the Patriot-News, a Harrisburg newspaper.
What the Philadelphia Inquirer describes as an “illegal culture of underwriting political campaigns with public dollars” is behind the indictments, which include various theft and conflict-of-interest allegations concerning the use of state government funds and workers.
Tom Corbett, the state attorney general and a Republican who has shown interest in running for governor, has been accused of scrutinizing Democrats. But he emphasized yesterday, when the charges were announced, that it is focusing on lawmakers from both parties, in the state House and Senate, the Philadelphia newspaper writes.
“Let me make this perfectly clear: This is not the conclusion,” Corbett said. “This is an ongoing investigation.”
Additional coverage:
Philadelphia Inquirer: “Bonusgate arraignments begin”
