Orie Melvin Guilty!

Jury finds Orie Melvin guilty on all but one count A jury found suspended Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin guilty on all but one counts today. Her sister, Janine Orie, was found guilty on all counts. The sisters are charged with misapplication of government funds, theft of services and conspiracy for allegedly using the justice's former Superior Court staff and the legislative staff of a third sister, former state Sen. Jane Orie, to run campaigns for the Supreme Court in 2003 and 2009. The jury was hung on one count of official oppression against Joan Orie Melvin. Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/politics-state/jury-deliberating-orie-melvin-public-corruption-case-close-to-verdict-676334/#ixzz2LYpnD1MC

How Can The Democrats Stand For This?

Judge wins election despite money and ethics troubles

By Mark Fazlollah

Inquirer Staff Writer

Thomas M. Nocella is being sued over sale of VFW land.  

Newly elected Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas M. Nocella credits U.S. Rep. Bob Brady - Philadelphia's Democratic Party boss - for intervening with ward leaders to put him on the ticket.

"He is the one in control," said Nocella, 67, rated qualified for the bench by the Philadelphia Bar Association, despite having been sanctioned by the city Ethics Commission in 2009.

He pointed out that he had done years of free legal work for the party and said the judgeship was his reward. "That's the way it's done in Pennsylvania," he said.

On Jan. 2, he will begin drawing a $165,000 judicial salary. Nocella welcomes the new income because there is a $358,000 IRS lien against him, the state says he ignored local taxes for years, and he has more than $1 million in debts listed in a bankruptcy case.

Vince Fumo was resentenced by U.S. District Judge Ronald Buckwalter last week.  He tagged another 6 months onto Fumo's original sentence.  In this Newsworks article Buckwalter sums up what is wrong with the Philadelphia political machine.

"I'll never understand Philadelphia politics. Not in my life," said Judge Ronald Buckwalter after listening to Fumo speak for more than an hour.

How in the wide world of sports can a Judge say he is getting $165,000 in salary for FREE legal work?

Civarella Sentence- 28 Years

Judge Edwin Kosik sentenced former Judge Mark Ciavarella to 28 years in prison. According to Sue Henry of WILK news radio Ciavarella intends on surrendering today.

Update:  The Times Leader is reporting this storyM on the sentencing of disgraced former Judge Mark Ciavarella in what the U.S. Attorney's Office is calling the most corrupt investigation in local history. The federal investigation, the largest and the most sustained political corruption inquiry in the history of the Middle District of Pennsylvania, was initiated under the direction of former U.S. Attorney Martin C. Carlson, now a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Middle District, and continued under Dennis C. Pfannenschmidt, who succeeded Carlson as court-appointed U.S. Attorney in 2009, and Smith, the current U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Blagojevich Guilty

Blagojevich Convicted of Trying to Auction Off Obama's Senate Seat

Phyllis Mundy Misplaced Lack of Support To Deal With Public Corruption

On Monday, June 13th, Representative Tarah Toohil moved a bill dealing with corrupt public officials to the floor for a vote. Robert Swift, Harrisburg correspondent, wrote this synopsis of the vote on this bill.

The measure, approved 169-32, would set mandatory/minimum terms of sentences for officials found guilty of the existing crime of official corruption and give victims the opportunity for the first time to seek restitution to recover court-related costs. This crime refers to someone using their public office to infringe on an individual's personal or property rights.

In an unacceptable position from an elected public official from Luzerne County, Rep. Phyllis Mundy voted NO against the bill.

Rep. Phyllis Mundy, D-120, Kingston, called the bill an example of "misplaced priorities" given corrections cost issues. She said the two ex-judges are receiving federal sentences of far greater severity than what the bill provides.

"This bill is really not about Luzerne County even though it purports to be," she added.

Ms. Mundy was joined by several other Democratic lawmakers who said the legislation would add to state corrections costs at a time when Pennsylvania contracted with other state to house convicts in a cost-savings move.

Evidently Rep. Phyllis Mundy is not paying attention to the sentencing of 30 officials snagged in her CORRUPT COUNTY.

Doug Richards- 15 months
Allen Bellas- 6 months house arrest
James Height- 5 months
Jeffrey Piazza- 6 months
Frank Pizzella- 2 years probation 5 months house arrest
Joseph Oliveri- 1 year and one day
Ross Scarantino- 13 months
Brian Dunn- 18 months

Circomlution For Dummies writes

Yeah, okay, so 30-some have been charged. And, what, 25 or so have been sentenced?

And what, pray tell, did those sentences amount to other than a gigantic slap on the collective wrists?

Mundy makes the ridiculous claim that sentencing would burden the budget. So what she is really saying is there are that many corrupt officials out there who, if sentenced, would send the budget into a tailspin. Sorry, Ms. Mundy, on this issue you are either misinformed or part of the problem.

With 169-32 passage, obviously Rep. Mundy should be held accountable for not supporting legislation to clean up public corruption.

Former Clerk of Court Robert Reilly Sentenced

In the ongoing saga surrounding Luzerne County corruption the Times Leader reports that former Clerk of Court Robert Reilly was sentenced to two years probation for lying to federal agents.

SCRANTON - Former Luzerne County Clerk of Court Robert Reilly was sentenced today to two years probation for lying to federal agents about the amount of money he received from a contractor who did business with his office.

Reilly appeared before U.S. District Judge Richard P. Conaboy, who also ordered Reilly to pay a $1,000 fine, and perform 50 hours of community service at the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen in WIlkes-Barre.

Reilly pleaded guilty in July to providing false information to an FBI agent. The U.S. Attorney's Office said Reilly lied to agents who questioned him about payments that were made to him by Barton Weidlich, a Pittston construction contractor who did work in Reilly office and other county offices.

Speaking moments after he was sentenced to two years probation for lying to federal agents, Reilly said the crime did not involve his role as a public official. He therefore does not believe it should impact his pension, Reilly said.

Reilly had served as clerk of courts for 22 years prior to his arrest in April.

Speaks For Itself

Todd Eachus has been trying to tie Toohil to the Luzerne County corruption scandal. Let this picture speak for itself.

Sprague And Sprague Connection To Todd Eachus

Trial lawyer Richard Sprague, a member of the legal firm Sprague and Sprague, represented Robert Powell in the Kids For Cash scheme that is part of the Luzerne County corruption scandal. He was also represented by Mark Sheppard, formerly of Sprague and Sprague according to this article that appeard on Law.com from The Legal Intelligencer. The article dealt with the F.B.I. putting its sights on now former Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael Toole.

When asked if Toole had taken a payoff from Powell, one of Powell's attorneys, Mark B. Sheppard, formerly of Sprague & Sprague and now a partner at Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads, said he could not comment.

Law.com features another story from The Legal Intelligencer dated February 13, 2009. It details a letter signed by Attorney Richard Sprague on behalf of Robert Powell in connection with the ongoing probe.

In a letter signed by Mark B. Sheppard of Sprague & Sprague in Philadelphia, Powell's lawyers said he had been unfairly portrayed in news reports on the corruption probe.

"First, it is grossly inaccurate to suggest that our client ever sought or had any influence in the sentencing of any juvenile offender. In fact, Bob Powell never offered to pay a single penny to these former judges. Instead, Bob Powell was a victim of their demands for payment," the letter says.

The letter goes on to say that, although Powell recognizes he made a mistake by not going to authorities, he remained silent about the judges' demands because they exerted pressure on Powell and his clients.

"The record will show that despite this, Powell not only refused the Judges' continued demands for additional payments, but ultimately reported the conduct to authorities," the letter says.

The letter, also signed by Richard A. Sprague and Geoffrey R. Johnson, says Powell is continuing to cooperate with authorities and is integral to the U.S. Attorney's prosecution of Ciavarella and Conahan.

What does all of this information have to do with Todd Eachus?

On February 3, 2010 Jennifer Lin of the Philadelphia Inquirer penned this article about lawyer Richard Sprague's testimony before two dozen legislators who grilled him, wanting to know just what his group - the Pennsylvania Casino Association - was up to.

The casino group sent big names into yesterday's hearing: Sprague, whose career as a prosecutor and defense lawyer dates to the 1950s, and PCA's adviser, Stephen A. Zappala - a former chief justice of the state Supreme Court.

During the joint hearing of the House Gaming Oversight Committee and the Senate Committee on Community, Economic and Recreational Development, Sprague conceded that last fall, in the heat of the debate over changing the state's gaming law to allow poker and other table games, his trade group sent three e-mails to all legislators in an effort to budge them on two points of contention: proposed tax rates for table games, and adding more licenses for so-called resort casinos.

He said that was lobbying - but not to a degree that would trip the 2007 law's rules for registering publicly.

The casino association also has drawn particular attention from lawmakers because of its staff. Sprague said he initially brought in Zappala, the former chief justice, as "chair of the association," while Michele Zappala Peck, his daughter, is its director of operations.

In addition, Lisa DeNaples, a principal and financial backer of the Mount Airy casino, is a director of PCA.

Sprague said Zappala brought stature to PCA. "The fact I have Chief Justice Zappala with me is what gives me a voice," he said.

Zappala said he did not lobby lawmakers.

Sprague said his own outreach to legislators was limited to personal visits in 2008 with eight senators and representatives, including House Majority Leader Todd Eachus (D., Luzerne) and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware).

"When I went to each of them," Sprague said, "my opening statement was 'I am here, and I don't want you to do a thing for me. . . . I'm here to introduce myself.' "

The purpose of his calls? To see "who does what and who's on which side.".

Treasury Secretary Jack McCord's website has a feature where the public can search state contracts called e-Contracts. There is a very interesting piece of information concerning Mr. Sprague's firm and Mr. Eachus.

On November 03, 2008 the House Democratic Caucus awarded Contract Number HDC01111008 not to exceed $100,000.00 in billing to Sprague and Sprague. There is no end date on the contract. The House Democratic Caucus will inform Sprague and Sprague when it no longer desires it services according to page 3 of the document.

Was it convenient that Attorney Sprague didn't mention this fact during his testimony or was it unknown to all those present that Mr. Eachus as well as all of the House Democratic Members of the House Gaming Oversight Committee were being or had been represented by Attorney Sprague's firm? I seriously doubt the second part is plausable.

The question that the media should be asking is whether the engagement of the Sprague firm by the House Democratic Caucus is any way connected to the Robert Powell investigation and are the taxpayers of the Commonwealth paying for Mr. Eachus's possible defense in Bonusgate or any other matter?

Maybe Mr. Eachus should explain to the public which side he is on?

The ending to the story concerning Attorney Sprague and the Pennsylvania Casino Association? Pennsylvania Casino Association Registers with State

Allegations Of Corruption Against Toohil Unfounded

The Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee paid for and authorized the flyer pictured above. It headlines the word "Corruption" followed by Extreme Partisianship and Political Opportunism.

The PDSC tries to support its claim of corruption by stating "Tarah turned a blind eye to Luzerne County Corruption when she defended a man for embezzling thousands of dollars from the county prison." The PDSC cites Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs. Robert Mark Licata filed November 10, 2009 as its source.

Anyone following the Luzerne County Corruption scandal knows that the players were charged by the FBI and those federal charges were heard in the chambers of the U.S. District Judge Edwin Kosik.

Times Leader reporter Edwin Lewis covered the story on Robert Licata on November 10, 2009. Mr. Licata surrendered with his attorney at Wilkes-Barre Central Court where he was arraigned on charges of theft and tampering with public records. He was released on $10,000 unsecured bail.

According to arrest records, Licata made 17 duplicate copies of haircut inmate sign-in-sheets from Dec. 26, 2006 to Dec. 1, 2008, and submitted them for payment. Licata allegedly received $5,982 in the scheme, arrest records say.

This WNEP news report chronicles the investigation conducted by the Luzerne County District Attorney's office, not the F.B.I.

In addition the money Licata stole was not taken from Luzerne County funds. It was actually taken from the prisoners if the PDSC had bothered to do its homework.

Licata was sentenced to three months home confinement and had to payback the excess charges. He plead guilty before Luzerne County Judge Hugh Mundy according to this Citizen's Voice story by Michael Sisak published August 26, 2010.

Although Mr. Licata worked at the Luzerne County prison his arrest was not part of the F.B.I. probe into Luzerne County corruption. The F.B.I. has been probing corrupt actions by public officials in the performance of their office. Mr. Licata was not an elected official. He was a petty thief. His case was prosecuted by Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney William Dunn with detectives from that office as investigators.

This flyer points to very sloppy opposition research with an even sloppier verification of the information. The facts do not support the allegations.

Tomorrow SOP will post a story about the multitude of legal firms hired by the Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus. Maybe they can explain to the taxpayers of Pennsylvania the need for all of these contracts.

Corbett's Bonusgate Investigation Didn't Help

The Pennsylvania Treasury site contains a link to e-Contracts where taxpayers/the public can search to see what contracts were let out by state agencies.

SOP performed a search of the House Democratic Caucus to determine what types of contracts it makes on behalf of the Democratic legislators belonging to this LEGISLATIVE body. Please don't confuse the House Democratic Caucus with the House Democratic Campaign Committee. The later is the political body used for election purposes.

The first interesting contract was made with StrongMail. From their website one can ascertain its type of business.

StrongMail enables businesses to reach, engage and influence their target audience. We can help you improve your email marketing campaign performance, boost deliverability and lower costs, while extending your reach to new audiences using social media.

Contract Number HDC02060809 is for an "Email Marketing Server" plus software and support. It goes from Friday, May 22, 2009 to Friday, May 21, 2010.

The next contract is with Listrak, Ltd to furnish email services to the House Democratic Caucus. What makes this contract interesting is that it was signed by Christine Zarek who's name appears multiple times during Grand Jury testimony in the Bonusgate investigation.

Contract Number HDC01052510 states "Whereas the Client desires to communicate on legislative issues with the residents of the Commonwealth". The amount of the contract is for $20,000.00. It's term is from Saturday, May 1, 2010 to Friday, December 31, 2010. Now anyone with half a brain knows that the term coincides with the election season. There is no good reason to terminate legislative issue notification to Commonwealth residents on December 31st except that election season is over.

Lables and Lists obtained a VOTER FILE AGREEMENT in 2008 for the purpose of providing an enhanced voter regsitration file to the PADITO. The contract amount was $9,600.00. NOTE: PADITO= Pennsylvania Democratic Informtaion Technologies Office.
This agreement is very clear it is for voter names, not constituent names.

Lables and Lists, Inc. goes on to receive a contract to provide statewide constituent data files to the House Democratic Caucus from Thurday, January 08, 2009 to Thursday, December 31 2009 in the amount of $49,500.00.

This contract seems to contradict the Code of Conduct posted by the House Democratic Caucus on its website about the prohibition of political activity by its members and staff. Keep in mind that many constituents are not registered voters.

According to the contract terms with Labels and ListsItem 4. Provision of Constituent Files it states a. Creation of Constituent Files Labels and Lists hereby agrees to create and supply to the PADITO two specially formatted and electronically processed copies of the Pennsylvania constituent file. The base data for these files will be obtained from publicly available lists of all Pennsylvania voters in each county of the state. These data will then be processed to create statewide data files of uniform format and will be enhanced to matches of national telephone databases and the U.S. Post Office's National Change of Address(NCOA) and Locatable Address Corrections System(LACS). The copies of the file will then be processed into a format specified by the PADITO. The final enhanced files shall be referred to as the "PADTIO Constituent Files".

It gets better. b. Delivery Dates Labels and Lists shall provide the PADITO with two PADITO Constituent Files during the year 2009. The date of delivery of the files will be the sole determination of the PADITO but no earlier than 30 days following notification of Labels and Lists of the requested dates. Item c covers Use and Ownership of PADITO Constituent File Data. Two elections per year, furnishing two files per year, really not that hard to figure out.

But then it gets to item d. Transfer of Raw County Data Files. Labels and Lists agrees to provide to the PADITO, at the latter's request and at no additional charge, copies of all the raw county or state voter files acquired and used by Labels and Lists as the basis for the creation of the PADITO Constituent Files.

Let's roll back to a previous post by SOP from December 30, 2009. It refers to emails at a different time about the "incumbent protection program" put together by Eachus et al found on CasablancaPA.com.

THE VEON PAPERS
EXHIBIT F
Attachment 11
Document and mails shoping John Paul Jones performing House Democratic Campaign Committee campaign work on state time using state resources in 2007 under Todd Eachus' supervision.

From: Jones, John Paul
Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 11:28 AM

To: Manzo, Michael; Cott, Brett
Cc: Manzo, Rachel

Subject: Incumbent Protection Meetings.

GOALS;
1. TO FOCUS, COORDINATE, AND DIRECT CAUCUS RESOURCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF INCUMBENT PROTECTION.

2. TO AVOID DUPLICATION OF INCUMBENT PROTECTION FUNCTIONS BETWEEN CAUCUS STAFF/offices.

3. To notify key caucus staff and leadership of progress (or lack thereof) by individual incumbents with regards to incumbent protection.

4. To share information across offices in order to constantly improve incumbent protection activities.

Meeting Composition:
Chairs- Rep. Eachus,
Mike Manzo,
Brett Cott

Leader's office- Paul Parsells
LCO- Chris Zarek
LRO- Jen Brubaker
OMS- Eric Webb

Approp.- Miriam Fox

ODA- Scott Casper

Policy Com-Rachel Manzo

Secretary-Mike Risch

Comm.-Barb Grill & Bill Patton

HDCC- Dan W. & Jess W.

F/R- Erin Madison

Misc. Staff- Jon Price, Bob Caton

Seems like things haven't really changed in the House Democratic Caucus political activity using taxpayer funds. If they were truly interested in Constituent Data files all they had to do was purchase public mailing addresses. This contract includes the identification of cell phone numbers, county and state voter files.

It should be noted that Lables and Lists received a new contract, Number 100129002, for $48,750.00 which ends January, 2011 by the entire House of Representatives, Democrats and Republicans, for email addresses in file format.

Disclaimer: This post implies no misconduct on the part of Strongmail, Listrak, Ltd. nor Labels and Lists, Inc.

It's Time For Eachus To Answer To His Constituents

In today's Standard Speaker the following Letter To The Editor appeared from Tiffany Cloud, local resident and an Eachus constituent.

Eachus should answer Toohil's questions
Published: September 18, 2010

Editor,

Candidate Tarah Toohil provided State Rep. Todd Eachus a deadline of 5 p.m. Sept. 9 to answer a series of questions related to Bonusgate and various investigations of misuse of legislative time and funding, as was reported in this newspaper.

A week has passed and Eachus has yet to answer those questions, and I feel it is his obligation to do so and, as his constituents, our absolute right to know. And all in the community should keep demanding Eachus respond to every single question until all they are answered to our satisfaction. This is not an election about him. It is an election about us, the people and we have rights to know the ethics and practices of those in office.

Apparently, not answering is a trend with Mr. Eachus. Ms. Toohil also sent him a certified mail request for a debate in early August and, an entire month later, no response.

So, why so mum? Why can't he answer the Bonusgate questions? And why is he so afraid to debate?

Granted, perhaps he's too busy paying off the mortgage of his Harrisburg home with per diems he took ($27K last year alone, in fact...on top of his salary) to answer questions and debate?

Or maybe he is too busy campaigning at events that are legislative events (such as his campaigning at the Senior Expo at the mall - he took an interview on Channel 13 at that event to discuss his opponent and the campaign.

But, as the man apparently keeps his campaign team working out of the same space as his legislative team in Hazleton, I suppose the concept of "separation" of legislation and campaigning has never quite registered with our state representative?

Answer Ms. Toohil's questions. Agree to a debate so your positions vs. Ms. Toohil's can be heard by all.

I'm really not asking for much. Just what I'd expect of any representative.

Tiffany Cloud,

Conyngham

Eachus had no problem self promoting on the parking decks for Hazleton's Intermodal Center. He should have told the public that project won on its own merits, not any influence from a legislator.

I truly believe that Mr. Eachus actually believes what he says. It's just that the rest of us don't trust him anymore.

Tara Toohil Calls On Eachus To Respond To Bonusgate Allegations

In today's Standard Speaker staff writer Sam Galski is reporting that Tara Toohil, candidate for the Pa. House of Representative seat in the 116th district is calling out House Majority Leader Todd Eachus to answer questions surrounding his role in the Bonusgate investigation and misuse of taxpayer funds conducted by Attorney General Tom Corbett's office.

Toohil issued a news release Tuesday that sets a 5 p.m. Thursday deadline for the incumbent to respond to 10 questions about the legislative corruption scandal that has led to several convictions and charges against House lawmakers and staffers, charging that Eachus has repeatedly refused to answer questions regarding his involvement. Toohil contends that constituents deserve answers to the questions, which she says she e-mailed to Eachus Campaign Spokesman Dave Georges.

"His name has repeatedly surfaced in the Bonusgate investigation even being named as a close ally to convicted felon and former State Representative, Michael Veon," Toohil wrote. "According to published reports, Representative Eachus's own aide, John Paul Jones, testified before the Grand Jury that Representative Eachus directed state employees to work primarily on political campaigns while on state time. Jones admitted that he did political work for Mr. Eachus while operating under the cover story that he was a legislative research specialist making $62,000 a year in state money."

She demanded answers to the following questions:

How much taxpayer money was spent on political work by state employees under your direction? During what time period did this occur?

Did you ever utilize state resources improperly in order to assist in campaigns?

Were you aware that your employees were doing political work on state time?

Have you ever used the term "soft dollars" in referencing state money that you directed to be used for political campaigning?

Did you personally make campaign phone calls out of your legislative office?

Did you direct John Paul Jones to do political work on state time?

Did you authorize bonuses (paid with state money) to state employees who did campaign work?

Have you discussed your involvement in Bonusgate with your employees or with your former ally and convicted felon Michael Veon?

Why do you refuse to answer questions from the media regarding your involvement in the Bonusgate Scandal?

"Representative Eachus, the people who put you in office deserve answers to these questions," Toohil wrote. "As an elected official you do not have the right to remain silent when it comes to answering to the public.

Eachus Campaign Spokesman Dave Georges tried to deflect Toohil's public call for answers about the "Bonusgate" scandal on Tuesday, saying Toohil should instead take a position on pertinent issues such as mine land reclamation, job creation and programs that could help veterans returning from the Middle East.

Here was Eachus's statement back in February about the pending closing of veteran outreach centers in Pennsylvania.

House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-116, Hazleton, and Rep. Ken Smith, D-112, Dunmore, vowed to bring together all the relevant state agencies and organizations like the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars to try to work out a solution that meets veterans' needs while recognizing budgetary realities. That's political speak. What is really means is that Pennsylvania doesn't have the money to continue to fund these outreach centers because the legislators are taking the money for themselves in the form of per diems, expense accounts, lavish pensions, and "country club" health benefits.

As to the issue of jobs and the mine reclamation project currently being conducted by Hazleton Creek Properties one only has to turn to this statement made by Paul Kanjorski, former boss of Todd Eachus. I understand that many workers rely on this project for jobs. Todd Eachus has been the representative of "NO" on this project from the beginning. It has brought at least 10 new police officers to the City of Hazleton. Maybe it is Todd who should explain his stance against Lou Barletta and the City of Hazleton.

A open question to David Georges. You said rather than question Todd Eachus Toohil should instead take a position on pertinent issues such as mine land reclamation, job creation and programs that could help veterans returning from the Middle East. Are you saying that public corruption and all that has happened in Harrisburg and Luzerne County aren't "pertinent"? What a commercial for Toohil.

On the subject of the "Party of No"

Website ranks Pennsylvania among top 10 corrupt states

We shouldn't be proud. Here is the link at the Patriot News.

A analysis by the Daily Beast of the most corrupt states in the country based on arrests and convictions for public corruption, fraud and more ranked Pennsylvania No. 8. Tennessee was ranked No. 1 and New Hampshire 51st on the list that includes the District of Columbia (No. 36). Nevada is 7th, New Jersey 21st, New York 24th and Maryland 23rd

Brett Cott Sentenced In Bonusgate Conviction

Democratic aide Brett Cott has been sentenced to 21-64 months in prison for his role in the Bonusgate scandal that rocked Harrisurg, Pennsylvania's capitol according to Brad Bumsted.

Citing a "clear violation of the public trust," a Dauphin County judge today sentenced a former aide of ex-Democratic Whip Mike Veon to 21 months to five years in a state prison for stealing taxpayer resources for political campaigns.

Cott was handcuffed and led away by sheriff's deputies after Common Pleas Judge Richard Lewis denied bail. He was to be taken to Dauphin County Prison to be transported to Camp Hill State Correctional Institution for processing into the state prison system.

Defense attorney Bryan Walk said he will appeal the conviction and the sentence. He called the sentence "excessive" and said there are drug dealers prosecuted by the attorney general's office who get less time.


The sentence was harsher than even prosecutors recommended. Tom Barnes of the Post-Gazette wrote:

The judge said Mr. Cott spent most of his time that was paid for on taxpayer dollars "orchestrating and mastermining political activity." The judge said "public money was used like monopoly money to run campaigns. Some potential candidates were scared off by this taxpayer funded juggernaut. The public was also victimized."

He said probation was not an option because that "would demean the seriousness of the crimes."

In a related story AG Tom Corbett withdrew his subpoenas of Twitter accounts seeking to find the identities of two users who have been critical of Mr. Corbett on the social networking site.

Deputy Attorney General E. Marc Costanzo said today the attorney general's office had no intention of violating anyone's First Amendment rights to free speech by issuing the subpoenas -- he said they were issued for "legal reasons, allowed by law. They had nothing to do with bloggers or tweets of people."

He said the state was trying to show that harsh, negative criticism of Mr. Corbett, especially in the blog CasablancaPA, was "part of Brett Cott's demeanor,"' and showed that he had no "remorse or contrition" about what he'd done. He said Mr. Cott's demeanor was a proper subject to be considered at sentencing.

In the attorney general's memo given to the judge before the sentencing, 17 "aggravating factors" were listed, showing that in the state's opinion Mr. Cott deserved a strong punishment.

One paragraph reads: "Defendant has extensively and anonymously utilized a blog entitled 'CasablancaPA, Exposing the hypocrisy of Tom Corbett,' to deflect blame and deny responsibility for his criminal conduct, and to attack and malign the investigative and prosecutorial process which resulted in his conviction."

Most in the blogging world including SOP scoffed at Corbett's strategy on this one. Cott was convicted and awaitiing sentencing. "Squishing the bug on the ground a little more" wasn't going to serve a greater purpose for society. With Pennsylvania's budget woes due to a loss of projected income meant that AG Corbett should have been a better steward of the resources provided to his office. He may make the claim that these people weren't paid anymore money to file the subpoenas. But most know that there are only so many hours in a work week. If one spends time on this issue another more pressing matter is being forgotten or put aside. Next time Tom use your head.

Skrepenak Gets To Remain Free A Little Longer

The Times Leader is reporting that Greg Skrepenak gets another date with the court. Judge Conaboy is postponing his sentencing on corruption charges born out of the biggest scandal to hit Luzerne County for a second time to give federal probation officials more time to complete their pre-sentencing reports. In all likelihood Skrepenak will stay inside the prison walls for 33 to 41 months after pleading guilty to accepting $5,000 from a developer who received a county-backed loan. What a turnaround from a great college and NFL career to the end of what was looking like a career in politics. (Let's see...Skrep says "I have contacts in the NFL"...nahh I think the contacts in Luzerne County are better...) It is time for a new system of government but from what is being said the Luzerne County Government Study Commission is creating a hybrid of what is already in place.

Lackawanna County Up To Bat

As anticipated and announced in previous media stories A.J. Munchak and Robert Cordaro were indicted by the federal government for their alleged roles in bribery and money laundering among a host of charges. In this story that appears in the Times Tribune Joe McDonald chronicles- A federal grand jury in Scranton indicted Lackawanna County Commissioner A.J. Munchak and former Commissioner Robert C. Cordaro this morning on public corruption charges.

Both are indicted on charges of racketeering and tax evasion. Mr. Cordaro faces a maximum of 364 years and a $7.7 million fine if convicted. Mr. Munchak faces 193 years and a $3.25 million fine. Click here to read the indictment.

Guilty, Guilty, And Guilty

On the national political front Democrats are dropping like flies. Senator Dodd announced his retirement after he realized the cost of supporting BarWhacky Obama's policies. Dodd's announcement comes on the heels of Sen. Byron Dorgan's, D-N.D., surprise decision to retire instead of seeking re-election this year. Democrats also lost two embattled gubernatorial candidates in Colorado and Michigan yesterday.

Locally football legend Greg Skrepenak is scheduled to plead guilty on January 26th. Doug Richards took his medicine this afternoon by pleading guilty in federal court to accepting a bribe.
While Skrep the Schlep is "bracing" to plead guilty Bill Brace plead guilty before U.S. District Judge Munley for accepting a bribe in exchange for influencing the award of a contract.

Not a great day for Democrats.

BREAKING NEWS: JEFFREY PIAZZA PLEADS GUILTY

From Lulac Political Letter
The Times Leader is reporting that former vo-tech official Jeffrey Piazza has plead guilty to accepting a kickback from a contractor in federal court before U.S. District Judge James Munley.

Federal prosecutors say Piazza accepted kickbacks from the contractor, who inflated the price of equipment sold to the center to cover the payments.

Investigation Stinks of Political Football Over Gaming

The TimesTribune wrote an editorial about the cost of government elections. You can read the contents at that link.

What I found intriguing is that phrase what a small world it is. From that opinion piece.

Meanwhile, on Dec. 18 the Allegheny County district attorney's office raided a district office of state Sen. Jane Orie, Judge Orie Melvin's sister and the third-ranking Republican in the Senate. They seized computers and records in furtherance of an Allegheny County grand jury investigation that began Nov. 2, one day before the general election. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, an intern in Ms. Orie's district office complained to prosecutors that the legislative office had engaged in campaign work for Judge Orie Melvin.

Use of publicly paid legislative staffers and resources for political work is the basis of a statewide investigation being conducted by the state attorney general's office. The Allegheny County inquiry is separate.

Ms. Orie's lawyer cried foul, noting that the Allegheny County district attorney is Stephen Zappalla Jr. Mr. Zappalla is a Democrat and the son of former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Zappalla, who has gone to work for the casino industry since his retirement as a judge. Ms. Orie, in the Senate, has been a vocal opponent of gambling expansion.

Stephen Zappalla is brother of Gregory Zappalla, former partner with Robert Powell and current owner of Gladstone Partners and PA ChildCare. Imagine if Stephen was District Attorney for Luzerne County? I guess the millions paid to the judges came only out of Powell's half of the profits.

Eachus- "Anyone Who Has Created A Problem Should Face Justice."

In response to a WNEP reporter's inquiry that was Todd Eachus's statement. Well,Todd, you may just get your wish. CasablancaPA has made a case revolving around Todd Eachus's invovlement in Bonusgate for some time. Their latest post spells out a plea deal highlighted in the WNEP report between AG Tom Corbett and Rachel Manzo, a former Eachus employee.

They reference an Associated Press article written by Mark Scolforo filed from Harrisburg.

John Paul Jones, a $62,000-a-year legislative research specialist until December 2007, told the grand jury that Eachus, D-Luzerne, brought him onto the state payroll after the November 2006 election, which returned Democrats to the majority in the House, with a cover story about his legislative work.

"That was sort of like the code of, here's what I do, but really I was solely there as a political guy," Jones said.

Jones testified that Eachus told him he considered the General Assembly's capability to produce public service announcements a free tool to help incumbents get re-elected.

In a May 2008 grand jury appearance, Jones said that while he was working for the House Democratic Campaign Committee in the run-up to that pivotal 2006 election, he and another campaign committee employee worked closely with Eachus out of an office in the Capitol's East Wing.

He said they helped Eachus phone Democratic state representatives to pressure them either to donate to the campaign committee or promise to spend a certain amount on their own races.

"As Todd would often say, he wanted to spend what he called soft dollars, which were government dollars, on public service announcements so that we had to ultimately spend less hard campaign dollars," Jones testified.

Jones said that for a time he and two other legislative aides spent nearly all day on political matters, raising money and performing other campaign-related duties. A phone number could not be located for Jones.

An unidentified state prosecutor, in the grand jury transcript, asked Jones whether Eachus was "directing and encouraging" their campaign efforts.

"Oh, yeah, sure," Jones responded. "There were plenty of times where (an aide) and I would be in to make phone calls or to staff Todd so he could make fundraising phone calls out of his office."


SightsonPennsylvania did a "Legislator X" series outlining testimony from the Grand Jury. Eachus has refused to answer questions relative to testimony given by others in this investigation. Mr. Eachus is within the his legal rights to refuse to answer any and all allegations. All persons mention in Corbett's investigation are innocent until proven guilty. That is a premise that SOP will always support regardless of the subject matter. It is an inalienable right.

Is somebody's goose cooked? Guess we will have to wait for the pop-up timer.