The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette today reports that a grand jury is "poring over" a collection of e-mail printouts and campaign donation spreadsheets "recently discovered" in the former office of a top aide to Bill DeWeese.
The story tells us very little we don't already know and that Gubernatorial Candidate Tom Corbett hasn't known for years: DeWeese directed his legislative staff to do campaign work on state time and top aide Kevin Sidella was a full-time campaign operative.
We'll set aside for now that Corbett obviously STILL is investigating the House Democratic Caucus after TWO AND A HALF YEARS and not so much the House and Senate Republicans as Corbett so often claims.
The one interesting fact is that these e-mails are "recently discovered." Wasn't DeWeese supposed to have turned over all that stuff to Corbett already? If these are caucus e-mails - and if they weren't they'd be of no interest to Corbett - they would have turned up in DeWeese's infamous "internal investigation" (Also known as The Great Scapegoat Hunt of '07)
This isn't the first batch of incriminating e-mails that DeWeese failed to turn over to Corbett even though they obviously resided on caucus servers. About 200 e-mails from Sidella and another DeWeese aide, Tom Andrews, to a taxpayer-funded contractor show the two "directing various political battle plans," and "green-lighting campaign mailings or Web postings." Although most of the e-mails were sent from their caucus accounts, DeWeese never surrendered them to Corbett. Corbett instead obtained them from the contractor's computer, which never passed through DeWeese's machiavellian hands.
If DeWeese was granted secret immunity back in October 2007, as we have long suspected, these lapses in good faith could invalidate the agreement. Or, Corbett could go after DeWeese for crimes not covered by the agreement.
If so, no one will laugh louder and longer at DeWeese's "perp walk" than Team CasablancaPA. But until we see some solid evidence that Corbett is doing a real investigation of House and Senate Republicans, we won't call it justice.
12 comments:
Good to see Corbett is still doing follow up investigations. This needs to be investigated and can lead to even more Reforms by what is found.
DeWeese admitted mistakes, much evidence proves he did not know more than he did know, and he will have to answer these further findings as well.
Nothing wrong in asking crossed questions, so long as one does not give out crooked answers.
The level of cooperation with the AG Office will determine much in the coming weeks and months ahead.
Dear Signor Ferrari and Anonymus:
Even if you assume that all allegations on this site are correct; does this excuse the conduct of those charged? I understand that DeWeese is a promising target, and for Cott a very inviting one considering DeWeese had Cott fired, but, once again, if the allegations are true, does it excuse the conduct of those charged?
Prosecutions by nature are somewhat selective – the excuse I am hearing seems to be; I was speeding but so was he. I am not shocked to learn that the practice was institutionalized; however, I am dismayed and amused at how willing the Democrats are to throw each other to the lions (e.g. Todd v DeWeese). Intelligently, the Republicans have sat back and watched with a smile and at times fed the fires that consume the Democrats – we Democrats could learn a lesson.
DeWeese’s individual guilt or innocence is not the issue: I submit the real issue is how do we hold our elected officials accountable and prevent the abuses and temptaions of office that currently exists from perpetuating indefinitely?
As to the involvement of staffers hired to do a specific job: stop posting your crap! There are many employees who have been asked to testify and some did political work, BUT, they did so at the direction of their elected leaders and/or managers. I suspect that many elected officials took (take) advantage of young and/or job-dependant staff to do political and personal work for them – this is the real crime! In fact, I imagine that many of the staffers that have been, or will be fired and/or charged will all state that they were doing what they were directed to do by their elected leaders. No this is not the Nazi defense; however, this is a defense when staffers are doing what they are asked to do and serve at the will of the legislator issuing the order. Hence the need for reform.
To the OAG, please get this investigation wrapped up and into Court – it is time that this matter be brought to a just conclusion and guidelines established.
Do you trust Bill Deweese? Do you believe him when he points a finger at someone else and says, "He did it, not me?"
It was DeWeese, through the lawyers hired and paid to protect him, who picked and chose the evidence to disclose to investigators. It's obvious that he withheld evidence that implicated himself and those closest to him.
Do you trust Bill DeWeese? Do you trust a criminal case that has been built on his lies? Do you have any faith in a prosecutor who is gullible enough to put his faith in Bill DeWeese?
You stated above “Do you trust Bill DeWeese? Do you believe him when he points a finger at someone else and says, "He did it, not me?"
Sorry, but your logic on trust is just wrong. Emails, testimony, secret bank accounts, and admissions by Manzo and others before, after firings, as well as the presentments and now after his Guilty Plea clearly proved he did many things without others knowing. Manzo is pointing the fingers now.
DeWeese did what he is supposed to do when you discover wrongdoing by employees. DeWeese ask them what they did and why, DeWeese hire an Independent Investigator, and DeWeese instead of any cover up attempts should cooperate with AG Office on what is found. This is what honest person does and rumors, beliefs, ifs, maybes, cannot refute evidence.
You stated, “It was DeWeese, through the lawyers hired and paid to protect him, who picked and chose the evidence to disclose to investigators. It's obvious that he withheld evidence that implicated himself and those closest to him.”
Wrong, DeWeese Investigators went through all House Democratic Caucus information, emails, and interviews. They turned over what they found and let the AG Office handle it. Once again, DeWeese did not pick and choose but just cooperated with the AG Office.
You Stated, “Do you trust Bill DeWeese? Do you trust a criminal case that has been built on his lies? Do you have any faith in a prosecutor who is gullible enough to put his faith in Bill DeWeese?”
After seeing what Manzo has been caught doing lying to his wife, staffers, bosses, and admitted it and pleaded guilty, along with what other State Witnesses said such as Lavelle, Webb, and Foreman, clearly you cannot trust what you wrote above about DeWeese.
These witnesses told the AG Office what was going on, how things were hidden, turned over documents showing why people got bonuses, as approved by Manzo and Veon.
The AG Office followed the evidence, interviewed 200 employees, and gave out immunity and pleas to obtain the evidence not DeWeese.
If you are upset that DeWeese cooperated instead of attempted a cover up, blame Manzo, Foreman, Lavelle, and Webb and others that have finger the wrongdoers with evidence, testimony, and documents found showing what happen.
The AG is doing what all AG do, they decide what people cooperated and why others have decided to hide things and blame everyone but themselves, and then let a jury decide in the end. If any are innocent, a jury will see it, but you trying to convict, indict, and call others names will not work.
I think this blogs website is a good place for candor.
If Corbett does not indict Republicans in similar circumstances as Democrats, then it is without question a political witch-hunt, more than a fair evaluation of the investigation.
If Corbett indicts Bill DeWeese after DeWeese did what he was suppose to do in not condoning a cover up, then it sends a clear signal, no lawmaker should ever cooperate with an investigation in the future, it is crystal clear that Attorney General is sending the wrong message to society.
If Fumo and Veon and Others had set up Non-Profits to distribute grant money and employees of those Non-Profits were cronies, relatives, and political, well, how can anyone defend that kind of set up?
If motorcycles, secret leases, secret computer accounts, and data were set up and only those that set them up, used them, and knew about them, how can we blame everyone?
If there is, no system to recover bonus money paid for political campaigning what will be the result of all these trials but more taxpayer money wasted. Reforms are already in place.
The bottom line is, Fumo has been convicted along with any staff that tried to destroy evidence, refused to admit guilt or wrongdoing, and tried to use the Internet for Defense purposes, it is the prelude to any Commonwealth prosecutions.
Those that cooperated were not prosecuted and those that alleged innocent but were found guilty by a Jury, have been or will be sentenced.
It is not Rocket Science; it is quite simple, yet flawed in a strange way too.
The flaws comes when some staffers did their jobs as they were told, learned, and were doing for years, but in that process and without intent crossed some ethical and legal lines.
This is where the AG Office after all 4 Caucus Investigations are seen in the Presentments should consider the circumstances of the nature and beliefs of the employees doing their jobs, and come up with a way to reimburse Taxpayers with No Contest Pleas, fines, and misdemeanors charges. Only a few deserve Felony Charges, that is being fair with justice, and all claims of injustice will be null and void.
One quickly understands that criminal justice bureaucracies depend upon symbolism and rhetoric as a major component of organizational stability.
The keystone for this aspect of justice is because political pressures on the criminal justice system are usually reactive rather than systematic and sustaining.
For example, pressures can be soothe through symbolic and rhetorical responses rather than substantive responses.
It is further argued that much of what appeared to be changes in philosophies or processes of criminal justice agencies may have merely been symbolism or window dressing.
Ironically, the reliance on symbols to legitimize the workings of the criminal justice system can lead to substantive change.
In those instances when important symbols have eroded, criminal justice agencies dependent upon such symbols have been made politically vulnerable, and substantive change has also taken place.
It is important Pennsylvania Attorney General has to take to account how reforms have been passed to stop the practices of bonuses paid for campaign work.
It is further important to the Pennsylvania Attorney General what people have cooperated to uncover, reveal, and expose the practices that led to this downfall of values.
Finally, Bill DeWeese as Majority Leader of the Democratic Caucus was the only political leader of all four caucues that brought in an Inspector General to uncover what happen.
Report the evidence with orders for all employees to cooperate with the Pennsylvania Attorney General investigation.
And had the Inspector General write up reforms that existed since 2006 to prevent such practices from happening again in the House Democratic Caucus.
This is what was so symbolic for Bonusgate, a legislator such as DeWeese that did the right thing, worked with another elected official such as the Pennsylvania Attorney General to help investigate and reform government rather fight with a plot, conspiracy or scheme.
Symbolic actions to support and seek out American Justice are important for societal justice to prevail in the end.
Bill DeWeese did the right thing and Attorney General Corbett knows it!
No! Wait! We told you DeWeese is innocent because of all the wonderful things he did!!! He's a reformer! Didn't you see him with Jim Christiana?? What don't you understand?? He hired a special Republican to investigate! He handed over all of the evidence (or most of it)!
Oh, damaging e-mails? Well, they were obviously fakes that were produced by Manzo when he wasn't cheating on his wife! Or Sidella when he had immunity! Or wait, maybe those e-mails were total fakes created by Scott Brubaker while he was pleading for his wife! No, wait, they were made up by Veon and Cott and leaked to the AG!
Please. Stop your sad whining, DeWeese staff. We all know the story you've been spinning. Its really getting old and moldy. You really don't need to keep repeating it, since you and Billy are the only ones who buy it.
You said……“No! Wait! We told you DeWeese is innocent because of all the wonderful things he did!!! He's a reformer! Didn't you see him with Jim Christiana?? What don't you understand?? He hired a special Republican to investigate! He handed over all of the evidence (or most of it)!”
DeWeese did hire an investigator, DeWeese did cooperate with AG upon the investigators findings and Manzo’s admissions, and he did pass reforms placed in by the former Inspector General.
You said…”Oh, damaging e-mails? Well, they were obviously fakes that were produced by Manzo when he wasn't cheating on his wife! Or Sidella when he had immunity! Or wait, maybe those e-mails were total fakes created by Scott Brubaker while he was pleading for his wife! No, wait, they were made up by Veon and Cott and leaked to the AG!
No one said any emails were faked only you suggest that now, not DeWeese. Those emails date back to 1999 to 2004 and bonuses were not paid in those years as in 2005.
No one blames Manzo on cheating on his wife, and lying about many things, and hiding things from HDC Leadership that caused the Investigation by Chadwick and then AG Office. Manzo has already pleaded guilty and now is targeting all that are guilty of working with him. Manzo is only answerable to his wife on his and her terms. Sidella and Brubaker did not create any emails either; neither did Veon or Cott, no one is saying that but you now. Sidella is cooperating with the AG Office as well, just as DeWeese instructed all his staff and another 200 HDC employees to do the same.
The only people not cooperating with the AG Office are those that have claimed their innocence as they have a right to do it. And those that have immunity and have turned in pleas and are now State witnesses against those indicted. It is they that have provided the abundance of information against the Indicted now, not DeWeese.
You said…….”Please. Stop your sad whining, DeWeese staff. We all know the story you've been spinning. It’s really getting old and moldy. You really don't need to keep repeating it, since you and Billy are the only ones who buy it.”
I am not spinning anything, DeWeese & Staff has been investigated, is being investigated, and will have to answer questions before the Grand Jury as all been called before it.
I feel for all that have been indicted. I think many were just doing their jobs. I respect Veon, Cott and Rosepink and all indicted. I think all of this could have been avoided by having all the bonuses paid back with no prosecutions except for a few that crossed the line such as Fumo and a few Aides that stood by him did, then I think they have big trouble. If others did not destroy evidence, or did not participate in a Non-Profit, or did not send Motorcycles out west on State expenses, it is my opinion they will not be convicted by a fair and unbiased jury.
Plus, if few to none Republicans are not indicted, then this whole thing is a witch-hunt for political purposes. However, if many more are indicted, then they have to defend themselves.
I cannot understand after reading Fumo’s Federal Indictment and his careless attitude that his staff was his personal valets, house cleaners, and grass cutters.
Fumo’s Non-Profits were employment agency for his voting base.
Moreover, Fumo’s state expenses, income, and accounts were his private piggy bank to buy gifts, supplies, and retain people for private tasks.
All when Fumo’s own personal income was in the millions by being a rainmaker for Dilworth Paxson and a cross checker to keep corporations that need favors in line. None of Fumo’s defenses even touched the jury, including his own testimony.
What is puzzling is how many here are blaming Corbett, DeWeese, Fina, and Chadwick, that did the right things to stop these practices and uncover everything that happen. As well as Sidela, Webb and other witness given immunity on what they know in a forthright sincere manner.
Now we have Manzo, and Foreman and other state witness that pleaded guilty in return for lighter sentences, and are not just pointing fingers but also turning in former colleagues that have already been indicted. I grant you Manzo and Foreman might find it easy testimony before a Grand Jury, but when cross-examinations come forth in trials, it will be a different matter entirely, and the AG Cases may not hold up on these people alone.
Yet, some here are blaming everybody when it actuality those that answered with truthfulness before AG Investigators have been given immunity and others leaner sentences, and are really the problem of those going to Trial.
Steve Webb or Eric Webb? Because Steve Webb does not have immunity. The attorney general made a special point of menacingly reminding Mr. Webb of that very intimidating fact during the October preliminary hearing.
It appears while others are testifying under immunity, this unfortunate soul is testifying under a threat of prosecution.
Unfortunate soul - You have got to be kidding! Steve Webb is more of a criminal than any of those charged. He admitted to committing perjury before the grand jury and was caught destroying evidence on the day that the search warrant was executed on the House Democratic caucus. Whoever his defense attorney is should be disbarred. It is criminal defense law 101 that you do not allow your client to admit to a crime under oath without immunity. This OAG has been known for using their witnesses for what they need and then turning around and charging them as soon as they are finished using them as a witness. Webb deserves whatever he gets!!!
In the Grand Jury Presentments Webb testify before the Gran Jury about what happen on the campaigns.
The testimony is very damaging as it reads in the Presentments.
In any case, add in Foreman, Lavelle, and Manzo and you have the foundations for the cases against the rests of the indicted staffs.
So, DeWeese did do the right thing by calling for his self-investigation and cooperating without a cover up
It shows that others that have admitted wrongdoing have turned on each other and are doing far more damage against people doing their jobs without the intent to steal, misuse stae time, and work for citizens and candidates.
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