WITF reporter Scott Detrow today notes that former Democratic House Leader and Whip H. William DeWeese and former Senate Republican Whip Jane Clare Orie share a dubious distinction: both lost their leadership positions due to criminal charges against them.
The two share another, more sinister distinction as well: Tom Corbett ignored evidence of their wrongdoing in furtherance of his political ambition.
In Orie's case, Corbett likely couldn't afford to alienate a powerful ally. In DeWeese's case, Corbett almost certainly bartered for evidence on others. (In both cases, Corbett might just be a drooling idiot too incompetent to hold the post of Attorney General, but we're betting on "politically ambitious" over "drooling idiot." Others may disagree)
The Orie scandal - not only that Corbett's office brushed off an intern who tried to report evidence of Orie's behavior, but that the evidence never emerged in Corbett's own three-year "investigation" of the Senate Republicans - already is is gathering steam and threatens to disrupt his campaign. There's even a Facebook page calling for his resignation.
The DeWeese scandal so far hasn't generated as much publicity. Corbett hoped that charging DeWeese for unrelated campaign activity within his own office would, like magical fairy dust, obscure the fact that Corbett overlooked a plethora of evidence against DeWeese in the caucus-wide issues at the center of "Bonusgate."
E-mails show DeWeese knew about the bonuses.
DeWeese's former top aide testified DeWeese knew about the bonuses.
DeWeese's assistant told the grand jury DeWeese approved the bonuses.
E-mails show DeWeese based personnel decisions on political work.
E-mails show DeWeese used a state-funded consultant for campaign work.
E-mails show DeWeese aide Kevin Sidella ordered and directed the state-funded contractor to perform political work.
E-mails show DeWeese aide Tom Andrews ordered and directed the state-funded contractor to perform political work.
Emails show DeWeese actively supervised caucus staff working on campaigns through the House Democratic Campaign Committee.
The Corbett campaign ignored every bit of this evidence against DeWeese. The only reason DeWeese faces any charges at all is because letting him off the hook completely turned out to be too much of a political liability for Corbett. But the charges do not relate to bonuses, the "LCOMM" operation, or the use of caucus resources for campaigns other than his own.
Why would the Corbett campaign ignore all the evidence against DeWeese, who's hardly a political ally? In the fall of 2007, DeWeese was waging a furious legal battle over the admissibility of evidence seized and subpoenas ordering staff to testify to the grand jury.
Resolution of DeWeese's court challenges could have taken months - perhaps even years. The Corbett campaign needed to make a big splash soon.
Suddenly, in November, DeWeese dropped his legal challenges, then made great fanfare of firing seven staffers and delivered to the Corbett campaign enough hand-picked evidence to indict those staffers.
Even though plenty of evidence against DeWeese slipped through in the mix, the Corbett campaign ignored it. As DeWeese had to know it would.
Two Political Junkies has scooped Casablancapa on the latest outrage of Corbettgate: Jane Orie's brother Jerry is an assistant attorney general under Corbett! No wonder she felt she was immune from prosecution.
ReplyDeleteTime to incorporate this finding and retake control of the narrative, gang!
Actually, the Jerry Orie connection was mentioned in a rather nauseating wet-kiss published Thursday in that Republican propaganda sheet, the Tribune-Review:
ReplyDelete"She hails from a close-knit McCandless family. In addition to Melvin and Janine Orie, there are sisters Joy and Judith; brother Joseph, a cardiologist in Buffalo; brother Jerry, who works in the insurance fraud section of Attorney General Tom Corbett's office; brother Jack, an attorney; and brother Jim, a former Allegheny County district attorney. Jane Orie began her public career as a prosecutor in the same office."
We agree this angle definitely needs more attention.
Given Attorney General Corbett's now proven pattern to ignore Senate Republican's, I guess Senator Ward and her boy toy Rob Ritson can rest at ease now without fear of prosecution for their campaign activities out of her former County Commissioner's Office and his former Hempfield Township Office.
ReplyDeleteAnd their recent activities recruiting candidates out of her Senate Office will most likely be overlooked too, including the illegal notarized affidavits of circulators signed by the republican candidates in the Southwest.
Given Tom Corbett's proven pattern of indicting people in response to public criticism (See: Perzel, John and DeWeese, H. William), legislative Republicans probably should brace themselves.
ReplyDeleteWho takes a better photo - Orie or DeWeese?
ReplyDeleteFamily members of any of the accused should be left alone. Jerry orie is a good man. He has nothing to do with any of this.
ReplyDeleteIs the brother of Senator Jane Orie the same John Orie that worked for the Office of the Attorney General?
ReplyDeleteyea, leave the family alone. Justice Joan Orie Melvin is a nice lady, Just like my grandmother. Leave her out od this. She had nothing to do with it. They are a tight-knit family that cares for one another. We need more families like them with good family values. Family should take care of family. Get them jobs when they need them and look out for each other.
ReplyDeletet o quote Oscar Wilde: Accessories are important. Jane Orie should heed this.
ReplyDeleteThose
ReplyDeleteorie Sisters certainly know how to cover both sides of an issue. Joannie can never be accused of being a tree-hugger because she has used enough hair=spray in her day to create a hole in the o-zone, while her sisyer Sen. Jane Clare Olare Orie appears as though she doesn't have a clue what hairspray is.
"Her phone records show she called Corbett's office, the grand jury said.
ReplyDeleteKevin Harley, a Corbett spokesman, said his office has no record of Rioja calling. Secondly, there is no record suggesting any specificity was provided, he said."
I guess Harley made his statement before he was aware of the phone records. I guess he needs to come up with yet another explanation.
All I have to say, it is not proper to catch a few that may have violated Habay Standards, and let all the rest go free and clear and have nothing given back to the legislator.
ReplyDeleteI have defended DeWeese, here along with all Defendants, and other Lawmakers brought up in the Veon Motions.
I feel for all, because only a few are paying the price, and that is not right or justice.
At the same time, in spite of once thinking Corbett cared about justice, it is clear he cares more about being Governor no matter how many injustices it takes.
The Judge has been very bias as well as giving every doubt about Corbett's Charges every benefit of the doubt instead of ruling otherwise especially on the Stetler motions.
I have called for an Amnesty Legislative Hearing letting every employee and lawmaker testify the mistakes that may have happen, and those do not, can be held accountable if found otherwise by evidence.
In addition, accompanied by fines, paybacks, and expenses reimbursed to the state with a reasonable payment plan.
All that will happen is this will go repeatedly and come back again in another decade.
It cannot be a few should be held guilty and most let go, and that is not justice, and I just think Corbett could show courageous leadership by doing so, while explaining there is not enough resources or time to catch all.
Therefore, this is the best alternative to reimburse taxpayers, reform all offices, and still let the voters decide.
This admits to wrongdoing and questions whether it was all-intentional, but still saves tax dollars and lets the people decide at election, and will foster new candidates to take on the old guard.
In spite of all the evidence, Mike Veon and Joan Orie were and are the hardest caring Public Servants that love doing their jobs and helping each other.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteThose
orie Sisters certainly know how to cover both sides of an issue. Joannie can never be accused of being a tree-hugger because she has used enough hair=spray in her day to create a hole in the o-zone, while her sisyer Sen. Jane Clare Olare Orie appears as though she doesn't have a clue what hairspray is. April 10, 2010 9:03 PM
Lets keep it clean, she has enough trouble, no need to personally attack her.
The Photos of her will be used forever and that is enough for anyone.
I feel for all that are being held accountable and the many that will escape, and this will go on for a longtime.
I do not agree with CasablancaPa summations and conclusions on DeWeese that are repeated repeatedly with playing with the facts fast and loose as much as the OAG Presentments.
ReplyDeleteManzo, said everything from the investigation to under oath, he BELIEVED, DeWeese knew, but never DeWeese definitely knew.
Same with Foreman that said Foreman, "THINKS" DeWeese knew.
The Emails should never have been admitted since they never were authenticated from the computer drives.
DeWeese did the right thing not to do a cover up, but Corbett's Investigators committed Criminal Procedures error, and the judicial rulings were just outright wrong, if they had been thrown out as they should, there was no case for the OAG.
And we know from Cross-Examination, Veon did not order the Bonuses, but we also know, it was Manzo that defined them, and ask DeWeese to pay them but on criteria far from saying it was for Campaigning on State Time.
Plus, we know Manzo and Foreman whether right or wrong actually were running things keeping many things from DeWeese and Veon, on their own for their own power pleasures, greed, and personal benefits.
I am for the Defendants at Casa now unfairly convicted and I feel they have not been impartially treated during the investigations or trial, and I pray and know they have great Appeal possibilities, to quit making them the scapegoats.
So, if you want to be proven right in the end treat others the same way you want to be treated, with accurate facts and statements and do not change the wording the people you cite said.
The only way to fight all charges and accusations is with the truth, and that truth must apply to everyone.
None of the arguments Casa posted are all right or wrong, but there is no question Corbett needs to respond to the Steler Motions.
ReplyDeleteCorbett should have resign from the OAG and let others prosecute, but his ambtion is larger than justice.
This is not right for the Commonwealth at all, and will haunt Harrisburg for a long time, and Corbett should find a better way.
The Convicted should be given a new trail or outright vacate the convictions by higher courts now under their questionable practices.
Anonymous said...Family members of any of the accused should be left alone. Jerry orie is a good man. He has nothing to do with any of this. April 10, 2010 7:59 PM
ReplyDeleteHope you have the same feeling when Veon's Briother is bringing brought in to be tarred and featherd in the next trial, for be blame solely for B.I.G.
When Senator Jerry LaValle wife was given a pass without handcuffs, and Jerry Lavalle's son benefited in B.I.G. selling Real Estate while Jerry was Chairman not Mike Veon!
But only Veon and Rosepink are charged?
Signor Ferrari said...Given Tom Corbett's proven pattern of indicting people in response to public criticism (See: Perzel, John and DeWeese, H. William), legislative Republicans probably should brace themselves. April 10, 2010 6:15 PM
ReplyDeleteI do not think Corbett will indict any Republicans beyond Perzel. If he does, it will change my views on his behavior to date, but it has to happen before the election.
Corbett will only indict those legislators he does not want to work with as Governor.
If he is not elected Governor, then you are right, everybody can be a target.
Anonymous said...Given Attorney General Corbett's now proven pattern to ignore Senate Republican's, I guess Senator Ward and her boy toy Rob Ritson can rest at ease now without fear of prosecution for their campaign activities out of her former County Commissioner's Office and his former Hempfield Township Office. And their recent activities recruiting candidates out of her Senate Office will most likely be overlooked too, including the illegal notarized affidavits of circulators signed by the republican candidates in the Southwest. April 10, 2010 6:06 PM
ReplyDeleteThe whispers are that the next Grand Jury on Joan Orie Melvin, will disclose from State Witnesses willing and waiting, to implicate all the Republican Judges that won this past November.
It was concerted effort statewide using many senate offices.
They thought like Jane Orie, they would never be caught nor investigated, and they are exposed as Jane Orie was by her staffers and interns and this will come out, asking for more Grand Juries on these Senators and Judges!
Even Mary Beth Buchanan’s Campaign Manager will not be saved, and the FEDS may be coming in sooner not later for other areas.
Theresa Heinz Kerry cannot be happy what happen in 2004 as Pennsylvania State Senate Offices were used as disguised Campaign Headquarters, especially her husband, John Kerry.
Ralph Nader Brigade is not sitting around but following every episode of these investigations and findings, they see big bcks for social causes to come forth from Big Law Firms with deep pockets.
The Reckoning has arrived but will now be played out!
Anonymous said...
ReplyDelete"Her phone records show she called Corbett's office, the grand jury said.
Kevin Harley, a Corbett spokesman, said his office has no record of Rioja calling. Secondly, there is no record suggesting any specificity was provided, he said."
I guess Harley made his statement before he was aware of the phone records. I guess he needs to come up with yet another explanation.
April 11, 2010 7:11 AM
Harley own comments in the Media will be used to show where he was outright lying, in time, he may rgeret his role, or will be fired and blamed by others.
Is it beyond the realm of possibility to believe Corbett only charged DeWeese, Stetler and Rodavich to save face after losing the Sean Ramaley trial? The jury acquitted Ramaley at noon, the grand jury indicted them at supper. It sure kept the Ramaley loss from being analyzed much by the press.
ReplyDeleteHey everybody! June 1st is "Everybody Draw Tom Corbett Day"!
ReplyDelete