Yesterday's testimony in the "computergate" trial from Al Bowman is a perfect example. The Associated Press - the sole outlet to produce an article - creates the impression that Bowman discussed only his former employer, Brett Feese. (Associated Press 10/14/11)
However, the AP fails to mention Bowman's significant testimony regarding how ubiquitous campaigning in the Capitol was among every legislator's office and all staff people. The Inquirer's Angela Couloumbis' Tweets from yesterday's trial reflect this truth:
"Bowman also testifies that prior to #computergate investigation, House R staffers routinely did political work during legislative day"
"But after 2007, when state AG investigation began, everyone got scared and started changing caucus policies #computergate"
The Tweets - seen by a tiny fraction of the public - paint the more accurate picture of the landscape that actually existed in the state legislature.
Something fundamentally unjust occurred with Corbett's investigation of the state legislature. Especially considering the supposedly high standard for criminality that Corbett's team publicly set from the very beginning of the investigation. As summarized by Deputy Attorney General Frank Fina, "Anybody who violated the law is going to get it." (Patriot News 8/3/08) Deputy Attorney General Marc Costanzo reiterated the standard: "That this kind of activity [illegal use of taxpayers funds for political campaigns] will not be tolerated, and people will pay for their crimes." (Post-Gazette 5/21/10)
In the period covered by Corbett's investigations, multiple instances of the same type of malfeasance have been presented to Corbett by:
-- his own grand jury witnesses regarding their employers like former Majority Leader Todd Eachus (Associated Press 12/23/09) and former Speaker Keith McCall (Associated Press 2/19/10)
-- informants contacting his office like the former intern for Senator Jane Orie (Post-Gazette 1/6/2010)
-- and, the Pennsylvania Ethics Commission regarding members of the legislature like former Representative Matt Wright (Associated Press 1/29/10)
Yet, Corbett knowingly and deliberately let these law-breakers and so many others go free.
6 comments:
I am seriously ASTOUNDED at the lack of coverage on this Computergate trial and corresponding evidence of wrongdoing in the Senate and by current House GOP leaders.
Is there no journalist worth a damn left in the state?
Have they all been bought off or are they just that lazy?
Only Dennis Roddy has been bought. The rest, we can only assume, are lazy.
In 1991, during a vote on a tax bill on the floor of the House of Representatives, a House Republican staff member was caught taking a photograph of the tally board that showed all of the "Yes" votes for the tax increase being cast by Democrats. He was literally doing campaign work while the House was in session and he was doing it on the House floor. The film was confiscated and destroyed by agreement of the caucus leaders. Ernie Preate didn't investigate and didn't prosecute. The moral of the story is that campaign work by House Republican staffers was open and notorious for over a decade before Corbett was dragged screaming and kicking to do something about it. Like any arms race, it continued to escalate for over a decade.
WHAT ABOUT SAM SMITH? WHY IS HE NOT IN THE MIX? PERZEL SAID IT IN HIS TESTIMONY THAT ALL KNEW OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BUT YET SPEAKER SAM SMITH IS GETTING OFF SCOTT FREE - WHY? WHO'S POCKET IS HE IN? AND TURZAI TOO? HE WAS ALWAYS IN THE MIX OF CAMPAIGN WORK AND THE EFFORTS OF THE REPUBLICAN TAKE-OVER.
SAM SMITH AND MIKE TURZAI SHOULD BE PROSECUTED TOO.
Perzel would even help himself more if he'd expose the rest of the Harrisburg insiders that were in on or knew about this situation.
Name names and let them be investigated and/or indicted and try to talk their way out of it.
No need to protect "buddies" if you're going to jail.
Use the opportunity to help the citizens of the Commonwealth by exposing the conspirators or enablers who countenanced this activity.
Let's "clean house".
On the other hand, if Perzel want to be the sacrificial lamb for Corbett rise to power, so be it.
My advice would be.."take 'em all down with you"...Perzel might get an even more reduced sentence by fingering your cohorts and you'll be doing us a favor too.
At one point, Perzel was asked about current House Speaker Sam Smith (R., Jefferson), who was not charged in the Computergate case.
Perzel testified that Smith, then also in the House GOP leadership, controlled the caucus' checkbook and had to sign off on the computer-software contracts.
"Sam would do whatever I asked him to do," Perzel said.
Prosecutors did not ask any follow-up questions, and Perzel declined to elaborate as he left the courthouse later with one of his attorneys, Fortunato Perri.
So, Frank Fina is prosecuting Brett Feese and lowly Secretary, but will ot investigate or prosecute Sam Smith or any other Senators?
This is outrageous, not justice, and outright corruption conducted by, for, and of Pennaylvania Attorney General Offices.
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