Tuesday, March 1, 2011

UNRAVELING


For someone with so much to hide, Bill DeWeese can't seem to shut up. Inexplicably, the Capitol Stenographers Corps is only too happy to provide him with fawning puff pieces and a forum to ramble unchecked.

It's too bad he's so rarely confronted with a tough question - we so enjoyed the deer-in-headlights look on his face when he realized that he'd just admitted to KDKA's Jon Delano that he never delegated responsibility for awarding bonuses.

But PCN's Bill Bova is no Jon Delano. The unasked questions could fill - well, a blog post.

"Corbett was coming after me with very unhappy headlines. With handcuffs and with jail cells."

When were you in handcuffs or in a jail cell? Oh, that's right - never.

"I was with him [Corbett] at the Superbowl - paid my own way."

Yeah, with campaign funds. How is that a legitimate campaign expense?

"In February of '07, with our lawyers in the room - the investigation's been going on a couple weeks at this point - with Manzo, and others in the room, Corbett said "You tell Bill DeWeese he brought this on himself." This was within a couple of weeks of Bonusgate. After five years, I've never been involved in the Bonusgate. I was not charged with Bonusgate."

If you've never been involved in Bonusgate, why did you plead the Fifth when called to testify in the Bonusgate trial? How could you incriminate yourself in a scheme in which you had no involvement?

"The allegations - and I asked you a few moments ago, and you are very, very au courant, if I might use some of the limited French that I have - you're a very educated character in what's going on in the Capitol, and you couldn't even tell me what I'm charged with. The nebulosity of that statute is such - the conflict of interest - he charged me with two of my people campaigning before five o'clock without a leave slip."

What was your response when two of your former colleagues and 10 staff people were charged under that statute? Isn't it true you said it was the greatest day of your life? Did you think the statute was nebulous then? Those "two of my people" - do you mean Kevin Sidella, who worked as your campaign fund-raiser full-time, at taxpayer expense, for almost 6 years, and Sharon Rodavich, who "did nothing but politics?" Does that include Melissa Frameli, Carol Bohach, Susan Story, Debra Konosky and Angel Kirby-Willard, who said campaign work was expected from them from the date of their hire? Does it include the Harrisburg staffers you stopped in the hallways of the Capitol and asked, "Why aren't you in Greene County?"

Also, what did you mean when you told Sidella "our saving grace is that everyone does it?"

"So, then he charges me 35 months later, after I cooperated, after I hired Republican prosecutors to cooperate with him, 35 months later, he charges me."

Yeah, why do you suppose there was such a long lag time between Sidella's incriminating grand jury testimony in 2007 and your indictment in December 2009? We're very curious about that, too.

Speaking of "cooperating," in September of 2007, you were contesting subpoenas served on caucus staff and seeking to have seized evidence excluded. In October of 2007, courts ruled against you on both the seized evidence and the subpoenas. Shortly after that, you negotiated with the Attorney General to turn over incriminating e-mails. What did those "negotiations" entail, and what persuaded you to begin cooperating? How did you decide which staffers to fire and which to provide with legal representation?

And why is it significant that you hired "Republican prosecutors" to cooperate with him?

"A couple counts because two people did campaign work - allegedly - I'm not sure they did - and they were told many times along with the whole team to never campaign on government hours."

But didn't you admit to the grand jury that campaign work " was not unusual?" Didn't you say, "That was part of the culture. Looking back it was wrong. We shouldn't have done it but it was part of the political culture on Capitol Hill."

(By the way, did anyone else get a very weird vibe from this non sequitur? -
"His agents have always been very, very polite and very, very professional - especially that muscular, charismatic, warm-hearted young gentleman that drove him for so many years, Brian Westmoreland. Wonderful guy." Then, later: "I'm very fond of many aspects of his world, including his wife and Brian Westmoreland, his bodyguard." What's up with that?)

For the record, we agree that cancellation of SCI German was political, and most likely personal. It's ironic, considering that DeWeese himself insulated himself against accusations of wrongdoing by his former chief of staff by firing him and exposing his extramarital affair. When the accusations came, DeWeese deflected the accusations with "You can't believe him; he's pissed me for firing him. And besides, he's a lying philanderer." Let us be the first to predict that when DeWeese starts making unsavory accusations against Corbett, Corbett will respond with "You can't believe him; he's just pissed at me for canceling his prison."

25 comments:

  1. OLD NEWS GETTING OLDER DEWEESE DID THE RIGHT THING!

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  2. THE RIGHT THING?????? Good lord, how can you say that? How so? By throwing everyone else under the bus for what he was ultimately responsible for? Pah-leeeeez. Ask Earl Mosely, PJ or Lauren McClure if he did the RIGHT thing? Did he do the right thing when he made his bizarre personal demands of his staff, such as a small coffee in a big cup, a small salad in a big bowl, or 12 specifically colored M&Ms. Or maybe he did the right thing by asking his state-paid aides balanced his checkbook, bought condoms and arranged his dinner dates? Deweese did the right thing? I would laugh if I wasn't so incensed by that comment.

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  3. Baffled as to what "right thing" he did? Was it his Sgt. Schultz impression - I know nothing - because even if that were true being disengaged and oblivious when you're the elected leader isn't "the right thing." Was it telling the grand jury he did it, but he shouldn't have; telling the press he never did it; and telling his state paid political fundraiser "everbody does it?" Was it publicly excoriating Manzo for the way Manzo treated his wife, or how Bill treated his ex-wife, Holly, when he tried to use his position to ban her from state offices and take her job away? Not so right I think.

    Poor Bill. No state employees left to wash his state paid car, read books to him or buy his condoms.But at least he can get the speedy trial he keeps demanding, if only he can convince his lawyer to stop requesting continuances!

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  4. It is easy to agree with the many "challenges" of the DeWeese aura. One point worth noting, however; his lawyer wouldn't have to keep asking for continuances if the AGs would stop playing hide the ball with all their information. Not like they haven't had a lengthy record of doing that.

    Speaking of DeWeese's lawyer and the AGs, can you believe Costopolous having the audacity to tell jane orie's jury that AG Corbett investigated the intern's complaint and found no violation! No, the AG had the chance to advise Sen, orie about her computer system, and had a receptionist shoo orie's intern away to the local DA. All the while, he was "investigating" all four caucuses for engaging in political activity on state time with state resources.
    Now that's hypocrisy to hang your hat on!

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  5. Hey, at least DeWeese fired Mike Manzo after finding out what Manzo was hiding from the entire Caucus. Certainly, that was the right thing to do, was it not???

    Heck, Mike Manzo was Corbett's Star Witness and is still waiting to be sentenced, and Corbett's OAG Staff allows Mike Manzo to lobby instead of putting him in jail and Manzo was the Architect of Bogusgate was he not??????

    Even worse, Mike Manzo's Wife that went from $49,000 to $89,000 in one year courtesy of Mike Manzo, hired Corbett' Chief of Staff William Ward for her Lawyer, Rachael 12 Count Indictment Plea Deal has gone to one Misdemeanor with no loss of pension???????

    In conclusion, Corbett would not be Governor without the Manzo's and William Ward would not be the governor Chief of Staff without Rachel Manzo!!!!!!!!

    Now that is not the right thing to do is it???????

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  6. Hey, DeWeese testified before the Grand Jury unlike Eachus, Veon, or McCall, or Orie.

    So, many of your complaints about DeWeese that have yet to be proven do not square with DeWeese actions when called upon to do the right thing.

    Just an observation and by the way Valez is Coming as soon as he wraps Orie's Non-Conviction after today.

    The OAG has some explaining to do on Prosecution Misconduct!

    It may help the victims of CasablancaPA, all due to DeWeese right calls and doing the right the right thing.

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  7. "...many of your complaints about DeWeese that have yet to be proven do not square with DeWeese actions ..."

    Name one.

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  8. Deweese seems to be on a drug. And that drug is called Charlie Sheen. You can't take it. Your face would melt.

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  9. And Brian Westmoreland will weep over his exploded body.

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  10. Signor Ferrari said...
    "...many of your complaints about DeWeese that have yet to be proven do not square with DeWeese actions ..."

    Name one.

    March 2, 2011 10:15 PM


    GO BACK AND READ YOUR CASA POSTS ON DEWEESE. CASA CLAIMED HE NEVER TESTIFIED BEFORE THE GRAND JURY.

    WHEN HE ACTUALLY DID AND THE AG CITED IT IN HIS PRELIM HEARING.

    SO, THAT ALONE IS "ONE" THAT CASA GOT WRONG.......NEED ANYMORE????

    APOLOGIZE FIRST FOR YOU GETTING IT WRONG!!!

    AND I'LL NAME ANOTHER!

    DeWeese was not the enemy, Manzo that is lobbying right now with Attorney General Approval and without being sentence caused much of the problems.

    NOT DEWEESE!

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  11. VALDEZ IS COMING!

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  12. "GO BACK AND READ YOUR CASA POSTS ON DEWEESE. CASA CLAIMED HE NEVER TESTIFIED BEFORE THE GRAND JURY."

    One more time: DeWeese did not testify before the grand jury until December 2009, just before he was indicted. Any statements on this blog that DeWeese did not testify to the grand jury were posted prior to that date. Further lies about this detail will not be tolerated.

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  13. Joan Orie took the stand in her defense and subjects herself to Cross Examination, why, because she was unafraid knowing she is not guilty and her Chief of Staff did break the law, lie, and treid to save her instead of telling the full truth.

    DeWeese did go before a Grand jury in 2009 as you say, did anyone else?

    Just goes to show people that are unafraid of the Law will testify before a Grand Jury or Jury, and that say something more than anything said here, threats against free speech or otherwise.

    If you are postings something about someone, why be afraid of others defending someone?

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  14. PJ Lavelle was sentenced but the Attorney General's Office has not scheduled Mike Manzo yet, what is the delay?

    Does anyone know?

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  15. "Just goes to show people that are unafraid of the Law will testify before a Grand Jury or Jury,"

    Then why did DeWeese take the Fifth at the Bonusgate trial?

    "what is the delay?"

    Manzo still has to fulfill his obligation to testify at the DeWeese trial before his agreement is final.

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  16. None of this compares to www.Corbettgate.com in crimes or numbers.

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  17. It is easy to be unafraid and testify when your using doctored evidence.

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  18. I once talk to old man near the end of his life he said he learned 3 lessons in life.

    1. It Is Better To Tell The Truth Than A Lie.

    2. It Is Better To Know Than Stay Ignorant.

    3. It Is Better To Live Under Freedom Than Live By Being Controlled.

    Pretty good, pretty, pretty, pretty good lessons of life for everybody and anybody.....pretty good.

    Especially how the Corbett Investigations were built on political lies for political reasons selective in nature and horrible by results.

    It will not stand!

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  19. Gov. Corbett has finally addressed the plight of the more than 40,000 working Pennsylvanians who just lost their adultBasic health insurance… by saying it’s not his problem.

    Corbett killed the program instead of asking his backers in the insurance industry to continue using a tiny slice of their $6 billion in excess profits to maintain adultBasic.

    Now, the Inquirer reports, “Corbett supports using [tobacco settlement] fund for health-care related programs, spokesman Kevin Harley said, but the question of whether to restore adultBasic would be for the legislature to decide.”

    Which we think is Harrisburg-ese for: the Governor couldn’t possibly care less.

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  20. With the legal proceedings in limbo, Jane Orie is not under any immediate pressure to step down or otherwise alter her political role.

    She had been the majority whip in the Senate, the third-ranking Republican in the chamber, but she relinquished that title with her indictment.

    Finding the person responsible for the signatures will be challenging.

    While Orie's legal troubles continue to stretch out, her political problems also grow.

    The senator stepped down as Republican whip when District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. charged her in April.

    The mistrial does more damage than good for her political clout is extremely limited.

    Melissa Hart, a former congresswoman who lost her 2006 re-election bid to Democrat Jason Altmire, is a name being mentioned, he said. Hart once held Orie's seat.

    Asked whether she was interested in the seat should it become vacant, Hart said: "I think that's inappropriate to talk about right now. There's a sitting senator who was just re-elected. ... Right now, I wish her the best. There's no conclusion to this at all."

    Drew Crompton, chief of staff to Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, said no one has talked to Scarnati about filling a potential vacancy.

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  21. On a more serious and egotistical note, is increasingly right-wing Governor Tom Corbett's decision to let adultBasic, the health-insurance program for low-income Pennsylvanians, expire and leave subscribers to enroll in a more expensive program.

    All rants about our despicable leaders and the greedy non-profit Blue Cross/Blue Shield letting the program die.

    Looks like Corbett would rather avoid the media, attend fundraisers, fight health-care reform and allow Marcellus shale drillers to poison our environment while not paying taxes than help our most vulnerable residents keep their affordable coverage.

    If Corbett's first month in office is any indication, it's going to be a long, sickening four years.

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  22. The two admitted masterminds and architects of bonusgate for themselves and their wives were, Mike Manzo and Scott Brubaker.

    They lobby now while waiting for the OAG to call upon them.

    The truth was flushed out and exposed and they were rightly fired and admitted their actions.

    DeWeese did the right thing.

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  23. The two admitted masterminds and architects of bonusgate for themselves and their wives were, Mike Manzo and Scott Brubaker.

    They lobby now while waiting for the OAG to call upon them.

    The truth was flushed out and exposed and they were rightly fired and admitted their actions.

    DeWeese did the right thing.

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  24. You are right that Manzo and Brubaker admitted they thought up and put together the bonus plan - and DeWeese fired them (along with people never charged, and charged but found to deserve only probation without even losing their pensions). The fact that Manzo and Brubaker are guilty and quite culpable doesn't mean DeWeese isn't. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the idea to leverage the lower guys (like staff) to get to the higher ups (DeWeese was the leader). He wasn't charged for bonuses, but the evidence points at him. I hope you appreciate the thought - u r welcome.

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  25. Anonymous said...
    You are right that Manzo and Brubaker admitted they thought up and put together the bonus plan - and DeWeese fired them.....He wasn't charged for bonuses, but the evidence points at him. I hope you appreciate the thought - u r welcome. March 9, 2011 8:43 AM

    Funny thing about evidence it is not compose of just thoughts and pointing at Deweese as the Manzos' and Brubakers' enriched themselves and lied to the entire caucus.

    Worse of all they blamed the people that hired them to oversee the office and all admitted Felons that let down their accountablity and will do anything now to save themselves, speaks far more with verifiable evidence than any thoughts, that cannot back their records?

    Husbands and wives teams cared about each other and forgot how it would look on Lawmakers that trusted them.

    With the exceptions of Brett Cott and Rosepink that were loyal, diligent, and not guilty of the crimes the jury later regretted.

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