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Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Curtis Jones In The Clear As DA Slams Former IG

City Councilman Curtis Jones has been cleared by an investigation by the District Attorney into his tenure as CEO of the Philadelphia Commercial Development Corp.  The investigation examined several subjects first probed by former city Inspector General Seth Williams, including technical problems with community surveillance cameras installed by PCDC with funding from a federal grant along with agreements on severance and the use of a car after Jones left PCDC.

DA Lynne Abraham was once a mentor to Williams but he left her employ and challenged her in a Democratic primary.  He is a declared candidate for District Attorney in the next election, when she is not expected to seek another term.  Abraham ripped Williams in a press conference today, saying his inspection as IG was "poorly done" and based on "flawed reasoning."  Williams forwarded his concerns about Jones to Abraham's office in three letters from July to January.  He is now in private practice as an attorney.

Jones this afternoon said he has been operating with a "cloud over my head" since joining Council in January. He thanked Abraham for her findings. "You want a fair and non-sensationalized investigation," Jones said. "To elevate yourself on the backs of others is unfair."  Jones declined to comment directly on Williams or his tactics.

Posted by Chris Brennan @ 1:45 PM  Permalink | 5 comments
Comments   
Posted 10:20 AM, 06/18/2008
TruthBeToldNow
My guess is that Ms. Abraham would "clear" Osama bin Laden if it meant she could take a pot-shot at Seth Williams. This is the kind of political nonsense that makes us sick to our stomachs. Ms Abraham should drop her petty vendetta and worry about her own office. Mr. Williams had every right to run against her in the last election. In fact, if you look at the murder rate and the number of dropped or mishandled cases by Ms. Abraham's office, the calls for change at the D.A.'s Office should have come long ago.
Posted 11:36 AM, 06/18/2008
TruthBeToldNow
Lynne Abraham is a disgrace. She has never advanced the ball on investigating corruption in Philadelphia. Now she is criticizing someone who had the nerve to actually do his job. Soeaking of "having the nerve," it is obvious that this is all motivated by Ms. Abraham's resentment toward mr. Williams. After all he had "the nerve" to exercise his rights as an American and run for her office.
Posted 04:54 PM, 06/18/2008
Rowland
Seth Williams as Inspector General launched an investigation based on less than flimsy evidence in an effort to take down Mr. Jones, a political enemy of one of Mr. Williams' allies. Could you imagine the politically motivated witch hunt investigations he would launch if he had the power of the DA's office behind him? "Williams for DA" is a sad joke on the citizens of Philadelphia.
Posted 08:40 AM, 06/19/2008
TruthBeToldNow
Hey Rowland - I thought that it is usually the investigation that bears the evidence. Doesn't the Inspector General have a duty to investigate allegations of corruption? One more thing: how do you know that the "evidence" that led to the investigation was "less than flimsy"? I did not see any details of what that information was in any of the articles I read. Are you just taking Ms. Abraham's word gor it? Based on her petty grudge against this man (who decided to run against her in the last election), I would not believe a word she has to say about Mr. Williams.
Posted 11:00 AM, 01/13/2009
crimewriter
Wasn't this Carol Campbell's revenge?
5 comments
About Chris Brennan and Catherine Lucey
PhillyClout
Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns.

Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002. Since then she has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. For the past two years, she covered the 2007 mayoral election. Now that the battle is over, she has moved down to the City Hall bureau where she will report on the Nutter administration.

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Catherine Lucey
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