I have to admit this. Despite those who thought otherwise I didn't believe Ray Musto was approachable by influence seekers. Call me naive, that's okay but I truly believed Musto to be better than that.
A report by the Times-Tribune has changed my mind. Today, Musto's attorneys' annouced a motion to postpone Musto's day in court. This action came despite yesterday's assertion by the Musto camp that he wanted his day in court. Bring it on and get it over with or not.
Mr. Musto should decide what strategy is best for him.. So far his horse is having trouble getting out of the gate.
Showing posts with label grand jury. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grand jury. Show all posts
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Times Shamrock Reports Grand Jury Indicts Ray Musto
In a somewhat shocking revelation to the political community the Times Shamrock is reporting that State Senator Ray Musto has been indicted by a federal grand jury.
State Sen. Raphael Musto was indicted by a federal grand jury today on charges that he accepted tens of thousands of dollars in bribes and kickbacks from an unnamed company after supporting the company's efforts to secure state grants.
The company performed nearly $48,0000 in renovations on a building Mr. Musto owned in 2006 and billed him $25,000, according to the indictment. Mr. Musto issued a $25,000 check to the company, but representatives of the company then paid him $25,000 in cash, the grand jury alleged.
The company did an additional $10,000 worth of work on the building, but never billed Mr. Musto, according to the grand jury, and provided Mr. Musto with annual holiday gifts in 2005-2008 that Mr. Musto did not report on state financial disclosure forms, the indictment said.
The indictment identifies the company only as "Company A," but federal agents are known to have examined records in Pittston Twp. detailing renovations on a building Mr. Musto owned there. The company performing the renovations was Mericle Construction, owned by Robert K. Mericle. Mr. Mericle has already pleaded guilty in connection with illegal payments made to two county judges who lodged juveniles in two detention centers built by his company.
On April 22,2010 Michael Sisak, staff writer for Times Shamrock, wrote this piece about the link between Mericle and Musto.
The mystery surrounding a recent federal raid on state Sen. Raphael J. Musto's home and the subsequent seizure of Pittston Township building permits twisted toward clarity Wednesday as the township released documents tying the lawmaker to $40,000 worth of home renovations conducted by the construction wing of Luzerne County corruption figure Robert K. Mericle's real estate empire.
Mericle's firm, Mericle Construction, obtained building permits in February and May 2006 to perform $5,200 worth of roof repairs and $34,800 remodeling work on a Bryden Street house that has been in Musto's family for more than a half century. Musto, who inherited the property from his father in 1970, transferred ownership to his son, Raphael J. Musto Jr., in August 2006.
The property, which was rezoned from residential to commercial following the construction work, now serves as an office for Musto Jr.'s physical therapy practice, Physical Therapy Center Unlimited.
Ray Musto(real name Raphael John Musto) ended his 40 year political career by not seeking re-election this year. Musto started his ascent by winning a special election for the unexpired term of his father, James Musto, House of Representative's seat in 1971. In 1980 he won a special election to become Congressman of the 11th Congressional district. In 1982 he was elected to the Senate representing the 14th District of Pennsylvania.
On October 7, 2005 Congressman Paul Kanjorski honored Senator Musto on the floor of the United States House of Representatives for his Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed upon him by the Italian American Asssociation of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
Link to the Musto Indictment Paperwork from the Times Leader.
The announcement from the Citizen Voice's website.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Eachus's Community Conversations- Soft Dollars?
Amanda Christman of the Standard Speaker reported on Todd Eachus's announcement of "Community Conversations" he is going to hold in his legislative district.
If you have a concern or question you've been wanting to ask a state legislator in person, now is your chance.
State Rep. Todd A. Eachus, D-116, will host three "community conversations" this month in different locations.
The first event will be held Wednesday at the Conyngham Borough Municipal Building, 215 Main St., from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Eachus said in a prepared statement the events will allow constituents to ask questions, express concerns and provide input regarding state and local issues. Eachus will also provide information on the state budget.
Community conversations will also be held Aug. 17, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Freeland Northside Community Ambulance Association, 417 Johnson St.; and Aug. 25, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Church Street Station Intermodal Facility, 126 Mine St., Hazleton.
Choosing the Intermodal Facility sight is laughable. Eachus refused to help Mayor Barletta secure funding for the building. But it gets better.
Tara Toohil, Republican candidate for the 116th district running against Eachus said Eachus' taxpayer-funded mailings that gauged residents' concerns for the "community conversations" were not necessary. People's concerns, she said, remain with government corruption, job availability and property taxes. Toohil said Eachus could have knocked on doors to find that out instead of sending out the mailing to announce the meetings. Toohil also wanted to know how much was spent on the mailings.
Thomas said the mailings are directly related to constituent service and came from that fund. He said the mailings have no relationship to the upcoming election. Citing a series of meetings held last year, Thomas said, the mailings and meetings are "purely legislative" and meant to inform people.
He said state legislature has rules to prevent taxpayer money fueled campaigning.
Evidently Bill Thomas missed this Grand Jury Testimony about Mr. Eachus.
Brad Bumsted reported on the testimony January 3, 2010.
In grand jury testimony, former aides identify him as aggressive and portray a politically ambitious lawmaker climbing the ladder in the House. He previously served as policy committee chairman and also chaired the House Democratic Campaign Committee.
Former staffer John Paul Jones said he was brought onto Eachus' staff "solely" to do political work. He said he had a "beard assignment" that he was supposed to be working on "alternative energy" issues.
"But you didn't study alternative energy?" a prosecutor asked him. "No," Jones told the grand jury.
Jones testified that Eachus wanted to spend "soft dollars" through state-paid public service announcements so the campaigns would spend less of their resources.
There were occasions, Jones testified, where he and another aide were called in to provide staff support so Eachus could make fundraising calls in his office.
Hmmmm..Mr. Thomas would you like to revisit your quote?
If you have a concern or question you've been wanting to ask a state legislator in person, now is your chance.
State Rep. Todd A. Eachus, D-116, will host three "community conversations" this month in different locations.
The first event will be held Wednesday at the Conyngham Borough Municipal Building, 215 Main St., from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Eachus said in a prepared statement the events will allow constituents to ask questions, express concerns and provide input regarding state and local issues. Eachus will also provide information on the state budget.
Community conversations will also be held Aug. 17, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Freeland Northside Community Ambulance Association, 417 Johnson St.; and Aug. 25, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Church Street Station Intermodal Facility, 126 Mine St., Hazleton.
Choosing the Intermodal Facility sight is laughable. Eachus refused to help Mayor Barletta secure funding for the building. But it gets better.
Tara Toohil, Republican candidate for the 116th district running against Eachus said Eachus' taxpayer-funded mailings that gauged residents' concerns for the "community conversations" were not necessary. People's concerns, she said, remain with government corruption, job availability and property taxes. Toohil said Eachus could have knocked on doors to find that out instead of sending out the mailing to announce the meetings. Toohil also wanted to know how much was spent on the mailings.
Thomas said the mailings are directly related to constituent service and came from that fund. He said the mailings have no relationship to the upcoming election. Citing a series of meetings held last year, Thomas said, the mailings and meetings are "purely legislative" and meant to inform people.
He said state legislature has rules to prevent taxpayer money fueled campaigning.
Evidently Bill Thomas missed this Grand Jury Testimony about Mr. Eachus.
Brad Bumsted reported on the testimony January 3, 2010.
In grand jury testimony, former aides identify him as aggressive and portray a politically ambitious lawmaker climbing the ladder in the House. He previously served as policy committee chairman and also chaired the House Democratic Campaign Committee.
Former staffer John Paul Jones said he was brought onto Eachus' staff "solely" to do political work. He said he had a "beard assignment" that he was supposed to be working on "alternative energy" issues.
"But you didn't study alternative energy?" a prosecutor asked him. "No," Jones told the grand jury.
Jones testified that Eachus wanted to spend "soft dollars" through state-paid public service announcements so the campaigns would spend less of their resources.
There were occasions, Jones testified, where he and another aide were called in to provide staff support so Eachus could make fundraising calls in his office.
Hmmmm..Mr. Thomas would you like to revisit your quote?
Monday, June 14, 2010
New Probe Into Pennsylvania Gaming Board License Awards
Just when the casinos in western PA get the ok to start table games on July 8th and those in our area July 13th, revelations come to light about a new grand jury empanelled last year looking into the practices of the Pennsylvania Gaming Board.
The Morning Call reports that a grand jury probing how The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board issued slots licenses has heard testimony more than once from Michael Manzo, the former chief of staff for the House Democratic Caucus and Denyse Miskin, the former director of the control board's Bureau of Corporate Compliance and Internal Controls. Miskin's testimony apparently occured as far back as January of this year.
Although he claimed he wasn't able to comment on the investigation at the request of the Attorney General Gaming board spokesman Doug Harbach revealed the gaming board has spent $65,000 so far in legal fees representing current and former gaming board officials because of the probe when asked for a comment.
One has to wonder whether the feud between the Zappalas and the Ories sparked this investigation and gave birth to the new grand jury.
The Morning Call reports that a grand jury probing how The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board issued slots licenses has heard testimony more than once from Michael Manzo, the former chief of staff for the House Democratic Caucus and Denyse Miskin, the former director of the control board's Bureau of Corporate Compliance and Internal Controls. Miskin's testimony apparently occured as far back as January of this year.
Although he claimed he wasn't able to comment on the investigation at the request of the Attorney General Gaming board spokesman Doug Harbach revealed the gaming board has spent $65,000 so far in legal fees representing current and former gaming board officials because of the probe when asked for a comment.
One has to wonder whether the feud between the Zappalas and the Ories sparked this investigation and gave birth to the new grand jury.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Pennsylvania Grand Jury Recommends Sweeping Government Overhauls
In this report out of Pennlive.com the Associated Press announces sweeping findings from the Grand Jury empaneled to investigate the misuse of taxpayer money commonly known as Bonusgate.
Despite dissemination of this report Todd Eachus's state site contains no mention of it.
A grand jury that investigated the state legislative corruption scandal known as Bonusgate wants the General Assembly to make sweeping changes, from how it hires and supervises employees to how it provides constituent services and even the way it debates passage of the annual budget.
A 34-page report obtained Monday by The Associated Press describes the Legislature as bloated with unnecessary staff and living in a time warp that reflects practices other states outlawed decades ago.
“This grand jury concludes, without any hesitation, that the current operational structure and ingrained procedures of the Pennsylvania House Democratic and Republican caucuses are irretrievably broken and in desperate need of systemic change,” the jury wrote.
“In the eyes of this grand jury, it is beyond dispute that numerous legislative employees have for years spent an enormous amount of time working on political campaigns when they were supposed to be performing their legislative duties,” the grand jury wrote. “All campaign work on legislative time must be eliminated and this will result in a surplus of legislative work unless rapid, meaningful change occurs.”
The 2,800 legislative employees amount to nine for each representative and 17 for each senator, the jury said.
“Despite the best efforts of numerous witnesses before the grand jury, nobody was able to justify such a large number of employees for this body,” the jurors wrote.
Among other reforms, the grand jury said the Legislature should:
— Eliminate, or at least make more transparent, the special leadership accounts that give House leaders millions of dollars in discretionary spending to control.
— Stop per diem payments to lawmakers, or at least tie them to actual expenses.
— Convert the General Assembly to a part-time body, impose term limits and give House members four-year terms.
— Combine the House Democratic and Republican print shops, information technology departments and personnel offices. Hire based on “standardized, published job descriptions.”
— Cease constituent service work related to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, described as a giveaway to businesses and a wasteful means of currying favor with voters at taxpayers’ expense.
— Impose tougher ethics practices, halt all payments and benefits to staffers on leave to campaign and ban compensatory time. Keep legislative employees from entering campaign offices during work hours.
— Prohibit using the same vendor for legislative and campaign purposes.
— Revamp the state budget process, making line items more descriptive and halting per diems if the budget is not passed by June 30.
— Eliminate taxpayer-funded political caucuses.
The report also called for a limited constitutional convention, saying it was concerned that the General Assembly “will remain in its ’time warp’ and meddle with, obfuscate, ignore or kill every recommendation.
Let's see if Eachus knows what the term leadership really means. Let's see if he rises to the occasion or serves us more slight of hand. Let's see if Brett Marcy can spin his words more.
Just today the AFL-CIO was demanding that there be no more cuts to Pennsylvania to preserve their member jobs which include doing campaign work on legislative time according to the Grand Jury.
This post is the facts..get ready for the fiction.
Despite dissemination of this report Todd Eachus's state site contains no mention of it.
A grand jury that investigated the state legislative corruption scandal known as Bonusgate wants the General Assembly to make sweeping changes, from how it hires and supervises employees to how it provides constituent services and even the way it debates passage of the annual budget.
A 34-page report obtained Monday by The Associated Press describes the Legislature as bloated with unnecessary staff and living in a time warp that reflects practices other states outlawed decades ago.
“This grand jury concludes, without any hesitation, that the current operational structure and ingrained procedures of the Pennsylvania House Democratic and Republican caucuses are irretrievably broken and in desperate need of systemic change,” the jury wrote.
“In the eyes of this grand jury, it is beyond dispute that numerous legislative employees have for years spent an enormous amount of time working on political campaigns when they were supposed to be performing their legislative duties,” the grand jury wrote. “All campaign work on legislative time must be eliminated and this will result in a surplus of legislative work unless rapid, meaningful change occurs.”
The 2,800 legislative employees amount to nine for each representative and 17 for each senator, the jury said.
“Despite the best efforts of numerous witnesses before the grand jury, nobody was able to justify such a large number of employees for this body,” the jurors wrote.
Among other reforms, the grand jury said the Legislature should:
— Eliminate, or at least make more transparent, the special leadership accounts that give House leaders millions of dollars in discretionary spending to control.
— Stop per diem payments to lawmakers, or at least tie them to actual expenses.
— Convert the General Assembly to a part-time body, impose term limits and give House members four-year terms.
— Combine the House Democratic and Republican print shops, information technology departments and personnel offices. Hire based on “standardized, published job descriptions.”
— Cease constituent service work related to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, described as a giveaway to businesses and a wasteful means of currying favor with voters at taxpayers’ expense.
— Impose tougher ethics practices, halt all payments and benefits to staffers on leave to campaign and ban compensatory time. Keep legislative employees from entering campaign offices during work hours.
— Prohibit using the same vendor for legislative and campaign purposes.
— Revamp the state budget process, making line items more descriptive and halting per diems if the budget is not passed by June 30.
— Eliminate taxpayer-funded political caucuses.
The report also called for a limited constitutional convention, saying it was concerned that the General Assembly “will remain in its ’time warp’ and meddle with, obfuscate, ignore or kill every recommendation.
Let's see if Eachus knows what the term leadership really means. Let's see if he rises to the occasion or serves us more slight of hand. Let's see if Brett Marcy can spin his words more.
Just today the AFL-CIO was demanding that there be no more cuts to Pennsylvania to preserve their member jobs which include doing campaign work on legislative time according to the Grand Jury.
This post is the facts..get ready for the fiction.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
McCall Announces His Retirement After Eachus Announces Re-election Bid
This headline probably sums up in words what most mainstream media are afraid to print.
Eachus’ aide and McCall’s chief counsel indicted
1, July 10, 2008 ·
"Horse with blinders" usually isn't a good defense for the top person in the office. In private industry the buck stops at the top not the bottom.
To be fair McCall's Chief Counsel was found not guilty. How many of you reading this blog have even been put into a situation where you were arrested or invited to tell your story before the grand jury?
Beat's Macy's Parade doesn't it?
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Cinderella(DeWeese) gets invitation to attorney general's party
Beautiful satire about Bill DeWeese in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Friday, December 4, 2009
BREAKING NEWS-Eachus Invited To Testify Before Grand Jury
POST-GAZETTE REPORTERS DENNIS RODDY AND TOM BARNES REPORT HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER TODD EACHUS HAS RECEIVED AN INVITE TO TESTIFY BEFORE THE GRAND JURY PROBING THE MISUSE OF TAXPAYER FUNDS FOR ELECTION PURPOSES.
Such letters of invitation, unlike subpoenas, which are used to compel a grand jury appearance by witnesses, have been sent in the past to individuals thought to be targets of the jury. Such letters were sent to earlier defendants in the sprawling investigation that came to be known as Bonusgate.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Skrepenak- "I was as shocked as everyone else.."
Jennifer Learn-Andes reported in the Times Leader that Greg Skrepenak, Luzerne County Commissioner, stated he was as shocked as everyone else" to learn his father was testifying before a grand jury looking into corruption in Northeastern Pennsylvania. According to the younger Skrepenak he wants to know but won't ask. Maybe he should revisit some of his votes as Luzerne County Commissioner to jog his memory.
For one, he voted to scrap the plans for Luzerne County to build its own juvenile detention center facility when he voted for leasing beds at PA ChildCare in December, 20004. The county had already spent $446,000.00 on architectural design work to build its own facility.
Imagine if the majority commissioners including Todd Vonderheid had stayed the course of the previous commissioners, Makowski and Pizano. Would those children have suffered like they did in juvenile court? There would have been no deal to send juveniles to PA ChildCare. For that action alone Skrepenak should not seek re-election. Read my previous posts for more suspect votes on this issue.
He may not be charged but it is like an audit. Audits don't always find wrongdoing but they definitely find stupidity in the decision process. He is quoted in the Times Leader article as saying "The hardest part is that people will theorize and speculate,”.
Skrep, what I write is not speculation or theories but the facts as presented at the time in news articles and known votes.
You should have to answer for this statement in the Times Leader article.
The commissioner said he wants to make it clear that he has no financial or ownership connection to Big Ugly’s. The commissioner, a former NFL lineman, had wanted to open the establishment, but could not own a liquor license because of his position in county government.
“I’m very rarely there, and I pay for my meals and everything when I’m there,” he said.
If you are rarely there as a commissioner why do we need to pay you?
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Juvenile Detention Center Or Is That Front And Center Stage?
Skrep's dad had his day before the grand jury. Is it related to a subpoena for Luzerne County Commissioner meeting minutes from 2004 to 2007?
A look at the Juvenile Detention Center issue.
New Luzerne County Commissioners, Greg Skrepenak and Todd Vonderheid took office on January 1, 2004. At the end of the year they suddenly decide there is an “emergency” when in fact they had been paying PA ChildCare on a per diem basis for almost two years. On what grounds can they claim an emergency when they already were contracting with PA ChildCare and other facilities throughout the state. They can’t claim there was a capacity issue because the bed census was not at 100% throughout the state or at PA ChildCare. One Commissioner admits bypassing the normal bidding process.
Citizens Voice article 12/31/2004
"An emergency was declared to bypass normal advertising requirements for services, Vonderheid said."
Another Commissioner points out that this lease was costing Luzerne County more money than need be.
Citizens Voice article 12/31/2004
Commissioner Stephen Urban did not support any of the contracts. He said declaring the emergency was unnecessary and proves Vonderheid and Skrepenak acted on the lease too quickly.
Urban continues to push for the county to construct a new facility. He said the cost to taxpayers would decrease by $90 per bed, per day.
"We're spending $4,000 a day more by leasing, rather than building," Urban said. "This was poor management on the part of the majority commissioners."
According to officials at the Committee of Seventy (215-447-3600 Ext. 104) in Philadelphia such a tactic is absurd and should not be tolerated.
Commissioner Vonderheid tries to cover his tracks by asking for the results of the audit being conducted by the State Department of Public Welfare when he already voted for the lease. Once you enter a lease it is very difficult to break. Vonderheid justifies the lease cost based on prices paid for the last three years. Again, if they are doing it for the last three years where was the emergency?
Citizens Voice article 12/31/2004
Vonderheid's letter to Estelle Richman, secretary of the Department of Public Welfare, asking to expedite an audit, which allegedly warns the lease is a bad deal for taxpayers, is too late, Urban said.
"He didn't do his due diligence on this," Urban said of Vonderheid. "His letter is nothing more than back tracking. He is asking questions that should have been asked before he signed the lease."
"The lease was based on rates approved for three straight years, by two different administrations," Vonderheid said.
Vonderheid states if the audit comes back and is unfavorable to PA ChildCare he will do what is right for the taxpayers. What were his actions when he found out about the results of the audit? Nothing.
Further, at the same meeting support services for the PA ChildCare facility are authorized for only 30 or 120 day periods. How can you have an emergency for the main facility but not the services that support it?
Citizens Voice article 12/31/2004
Other contracts approved were for food service, custodial and maintenance service, and health insurance. They were all for 120 days, except the custodial and maintenance contract, which is for 30 days.
It's just keeps getting better.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Grand Jury Looks At Wilkes Barre School District
Wilkes-Barre Area School District Superintendent Jeff Namey went before a grand jury yesterday looking into the hiring practices of the Wilkes-Barre Area School District. According to Jerry Lynott at the Times Leader Namey entered with a folder under his arm and left empty handed.
Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Namey said he “went in and had to provide some information and that’s exactly what I did.” He estimated he was before the panel for 25 to 30 minutes.
He was seen outside the grand jury room around 9:35 a.m. and again in the hallway near the room’s entrances at approximately 11:25 a.m.
Two men left the room about an hour before Namey, but would not answer questions or identify themselves.
When reached later in the afternoon, Namey said no one else from the district went before the grand jury Tuesday.
As he left the courthouse, Namey spoke to reporters and shed light on other matters related and unrelated to his appearance.
Within the past two weeks, FBI agents interviewed district employees, Namey said. “It’s common knowledge that they spoke to a couple of teachers.”
Federal investigators are conducting a separate investigation into the Wilkes-Barre Area Vocational Technical School, according to Namey. “I have some knowledge, but I can’t comment,” he said.
Dave Janoski at the Citizen's Voice who is doing a yeoman's job covering the Luzerne County Courthouse investigation and prosecution recorded this comment in his article today.
Namey, who appeared in federal court in Scranton without an attorney, said it was his first time testifying before a grand jury. “It was not pleasant,” he told news reporters afterward.
“I was asked to provide some information and that’s exactly what I did,” Namey said. “If anything inappropriate occurred, there needs to be a consequence.”
Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Namey said he “went in and had to provide some information and that’s exactly what I did.” He estimated he was before the panel for 25 to 30 minutes.
He was seen outside the grand jury room around 9:35 a.m. and again in the hallway near the room’s entrances at approximately 11:25 a.m.
Two men left the room about an hour before Namey, but would not answer questions or identify themselves.
When reached later in the afternoon, Namey said no one else from the district went before the grand jury Tuesday.
As he left the courthouse, Namey spoke to reporters and shed light on other matters related and unrelated to his appearance.
Within the past two weeks, FBI agents interviewed district employees, Namey said. “It’s common knowledge that they spoke to a couple of teachers.”
Federal investigators are conducting a separate investigation into the Wilkes-Barre Area Vocational Technical School, according to Namey. “I have some knowledge, but I can’t comment,” he said.
Dave Janoski at the Citizen's Voice who is doing a yeoman's job covering the Luzerne County Courthouse investigation and prosecution recorded this comment in his article today.
Namey, who appeared in federal court in Scranton without an attorney, said it was his first time testifying before a grand jury. “It was not pleasant,” he told news reporters afterward.
“I was asked to provide some information and that’s exactly what I did,” Namey said. “If anything inappropriate occurred, there needs to be a consequence.”
Friday, February 20, 2009
AG Tom Corbett-Shock The Conscience Of People
When the next criminal charges come in the Bonusgate public corruption investigation of the Legislature, they will "shock the conscience of people" because of the staggering amount of tax money involved according to Attorney General Tom Corbett.
The grand jury investigation is proceeding more smoothly than it did a few months ago, since House Republicans agreed to turn over certain records, Corbett said in an interview before he testified to the House Appropriations Committee about his office's budget.
"The investigation is ongoing, and when we are prepared to release information, we will," he said. "If you're going down a bumpy road, you've got to slow down, don't you? It's going more smoothly now."
Corbett said he has no "time schedule" for filing criminal charges.
It seems the people over at the AP did not do their homework before reporting AP: Legislature Spent $5.8M Investigating $3.7M In Bonuses When Corbett releases the figures I am sure the latter will increase by a great amount.
If you are interested here is the link for the first grand jury indictments.
But I think you will have more fun if you click on this link- Statements From Governor, Lawmakers, General Counsel
Something you will notice on the last link. There is a link to the Harrisburg Indictment and the Pittsburgh Indictment. The mainstream media has been reporting that AG Corbett empaneled a second statewide grand jury. According to my sources inside his office and according to the links he empaneled a THIRD grand jury, two in Harrisburg and the one in Pittsburgh.
In the meantime Governor Rendell has his own problems regarding secrecy in awarding contracts.
A lack of transparency leaves auditors unable to "ascertain whether proper controls are in place to prevent fraud, abuse or other inappropriate activity from occurring during the contract" awarding process, states the 2008 audit prepared by state Auditor General Jack Wagner's office and an outside auditing company.
Wagner raised a similar issue in a preliminary audit reported on by The Patriot-News last week. That draft audit involves nearly $600 million in technology contracts awarded to the international consulting firm Deloitte from 2004 through 2007, during Gov. Ed Rendell's administration.
Rep. Douglas Reichley, R-Lehigh County, who has been critical of the Rendell administration's contracting practices, said he doesn't understand why Rendell doesn't mandate full cooperation with auditors.
Rendell must take a lesson from his Democratic friends in Luzerne County.
Here's a great article at the National Institute of Corrections on Building Community Support for New Jail Construction. You could also read an article about Marketing Strategies for Inmate Programs: A Succinct Review. Seems pretty simple to me. Get the FBI and the Attorney General into your county and you have a "captive" audience. Ohhh...wait..that is "captured" audience.
The grand jury investigation is proceeding more smoothly than it did a few months ago, since House Republicans agreed to turn over certain records, Corbett said in an interview before he testified to the House Appropriations Committee about his office's budget.
"The investigation is ongoing, and when we are prepared to release information, we will," he said. "If you're going down a bumpy road, you've got to slow down, don't you? It's going more smoothly now."
Corbett said he has no "time schedule" for filing criminal charges.
It seems the people over at the AP did not do their homework before reporting AP: Legislature Spent $5.8M Investigating $3.7M In Bonuses When Corbett releases the figures I am sure the latter will increase by a great amount.
If you are interested here is the link for the first grand jury indictments.
But I think you will have more fun if you click on this link- Statements From Governor, Lawmakers, General Counsel
Something you will notice on the last link. There is a link to the Harrisburg Indictment and the Pittsburgh Indictment. The mainstream media has been reporting that AG Corbett empaneled a second statewide grand jury. According to my sources inside his office and according to the links he empaneled a THIRD grand jury, two in Harrisburg and the one in Pittsburgh.
In the meantime Governor Rendell has his own problems regarding secrecy in awarding contracts.
A lack of transparency leaves auditors unable to "ascertain whether proper controls are in place to prevent fraud, abuse or other inappropriate activity from occurring during the contract" awarding process, states the 2008 audit prepared by state Auditor General Jack Wagner's office and an outside auditing company.
Wagner raised a similar issue in a preliminary audit reported on by The Patriot-News last week. That draft audit involves nearly $600 million in technology contracts awarded to the international consulting firm Deloitte from 2004 through 2007, during Gov. Ed Rendell's administration.
Rep. Douglas Reichley, R-Lehigh County, who has been critical of the Rendell administration's contracting practices, said he doesn't understand why Rendell doesn't mandate full cooperation with auditors.
Rendell must take a lesson from his Democratic friends in Luzerne County.
Here's a great article at the National Institute of Corrections on Building Community Support for New Jail Construction. You could also read an article about Marketing Strategies for Inmate Programs: A Succinct Review. Seems pretty simple to me. Get the FBI and the Attorney General into your county and you have a "captive" audience. Ohhh...wait..that is "captured" audience.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
AG Corbett Empanels A SECOND Grand Jury
Public corruption is receiving the attention it deserves from Attorney General Tom Corbett. My sources tell me that he placed a high priority on the Bonusgate investigation. Overtime is not a problem for personnel working on the case.
AG Corbett announced today that he is convening a second grand jury to allow the first panel to focus exclusively on public corruption. Those in Luzerne County should be keeping a watchful eye as this grand jury proceeds with its work. President Judge Muroski called for a state audit of funds in the Luzerne County Courthouse offices. He didn't do that out of curiosity. I hear he has information on missing monies and wants answers.
Back to Corbett. In his request to Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Castille, Corbett stated that the "investigation has demanded virtually all of the grand jury's time and resources" since it was formed.
That's not expected to change in the near future, Corbett added, "because the wide-ranging political corruption investigation ... is expected to continue to demand virtually all of the grand jury's time and resources until it expires" in August.
Corbett said the new panel is needed because other cases, such as probes of drug rings, timber thefts and insurance fraud, have increasingly been left on the losing end of the competition for time with the grand jury.
"We need to keep these other cases going while the public corruption investigation plays out," said Kevin Harley, Corbett's spokesman.
It has been reported in the local press about suspected insurance fraud as part of the Luzerne County public corruption probe.
AG Corbett announced today that he is convening a second grand jury to allow the first panel to focus exclusively on public corruption. Those in Luzerne County should be keeping a watchful eye as this grand jury proceeds with its work. President Judge Muroski called for a state audit of funds in the Luzerne County Courthouse offices. He didn't do that out of curiosity. I hear he has information on missing monies and wants answers.
Back to Corbett. In his request to Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Castille, Corbett stated that the "investigation has demanded virtually all of the grand jury's time and resources" since it was formed.
That's not expected to change in the near future, Corbett added, "because the wide-ranging political corruption investigation ... is expected to continue to demand virtually all of the grand jury's time and resources until it expires" in August.
Corbett said the new panel is needed because other cases, such as probes of drug rings, timber thefts and insurance fraud, have increasingly been left on the losing end of the competition for time with the grand jury.
"We need to keep these other cases going while the public corruption investigation plays out," said Kevin Harley, Corbett's spokesman.
It has been reported in the local press about suspected insurance fraud as part of the Luzerne County public corruption probe.
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