Today, Attorney General Tom Corbett announced that three more people face charges in his ongoing probe into legislative misdeeds. The two main targets, Majority Whip Bill DeWeese and Revenue Secretary Steve Stetler, are the highest ranking officials to be ensnared in the investigation thus far. Combined, Stetler, DeWeese, and DeWeese staffer Sharon Rodavich face a total of 18 counts of conspicacy, fraud, and theft.
Corbett seems to be working his way up the food chain. Where will it all end?
Like Democrats charged previously, DeWeese, Stetler, and Rodavich are accused of using tax dollars to fund political activities. They allegedly oversaw various schemes that spent tax dollars on political efforts, including fundraising and opposition research.
Both DeWeese and Stetler are key players in the Democratic circles. Stetler is a member of Gov. Ed Rendell's cabinet and DeWeese is the third highest ranking member of the state legislature.
In the first round of charges, which came in July of 2008, was former State Rep. Mike Veon. Veon was well past his political prime, having lost reelection narrowly in 2006.
The second round of charges, which were annouced on November 12th, included State Rep. John Perzel, the former Speaker of the House. Perzel was the first sitting lawmaker to be charged in the investigation, but became considerlably less influencial after Republicans lost control of the majority.
Now, Corbett has thrust a dagger into the heart of the Democratic Caucus. DeWeese has been a member of the State House since 1976 and was Speaker of the House in the early 1990s. He has been a key player in many issues, including the expansion of table games. Stetler was the policy chief for House Democrats before being tapped for the Rendell Adminstration.
It's anyone's guess where this investigation goes next.
Check out more coverage of 'Bonusgate' and reforms in Harrisburg.
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If Tom Corbett wants the Commonwealth to take him AND his bid for governor seriously, then I still think he needs to charge more Republicans. It still stinks of partisan politics, if you ask me. I also would give him a lot more respect if he stepped down from his AG job to run full time for governor.— akefer- take it from someone who knows Harrisburg: Republicans there are smarter than Democrats in covering their tracks when it comes to corruption. Corbett targeted Perzel to "prove" his bi-partisanship, but in actuality, nobody liked Perzel or his chief-of-staff, particularly their fellow Republicans.— chuckw
- akefer..."charge more Republicans?" Are you serious?! How about Corbett charge people who break the law and public trust?— rbpeeple
- Comment removed.
- "where will it all end"? Stetler to Rendell. I have waited all my life for Fast Eddie to get his fingers smashed. Sleeping lately Ed?— FJG JR
- Corbett has knowingly and repeatedly betrayed sacred public trust by repeatedly refusing to investigate "The Rendell Murders" (Rendell's releasing stone thugs back into our neighborHOODs for years, to save state budget funds for "No Bid" Contracts and $60 MILLION in other contracts Rendell's own Auditor General repeatedly and publicly denounces him on). Corbett was told in writing, with evidence for well over 20 months now...murder victim after murder victim...destroyed family after destroyed family and he's repeatedly betrayed us. Please remember his betrayal each time the next "Newsworthy Parolee Murder Victim(s)" is announced...like the PIAZZA MURDERS or Joe Frazier's Kin or that mother of 4 children or that poor 11 year old rape victim or Burgess, the Serial Killer and Rapist, and this is just within the last year! For every State Parolee crime that makes the papers, 100 don't. Parole Board Chairman McVey has even repeatedly refused to provide documentation to State Auditors on the overwhelming Caseload Numbers to hide her and Rendell's crimes. Killadelphia has 1/6th the population, but 6 times the crime of New York. We have 49,000 Probationers and over 9,000 convicted Murders, Armed Robbers, Drug Dealers, Rapists = State Parolees! and over 500 Escapees! Rendell is releasing 2,000 Prison Inmates per MONTH! Corbett was told, in writting, with evidence and he's done nothing. He won’t even investigate crimes within the Parole Board! He's riding the flow of blood into the Governor's Mansion! He's repeatedly betrayed his position as Attorney General and has helped Rendell turn Philadelphia into Kiladelphia...the largest Open Air Prison in America and 1st in the Nation in COP KILLINGS... Corbett is not worthy to run for Governor. The next Newsworthy State Parolee Murder is certain and soon. Give these numbers a call...U.S. Attorney's Office = 215-861-8200, the President's Comment Line = 202-456-1111. The life and family you save, may well be your own.— John Law
- Why is Corbett being allowed to use the job he's repeatedly failed at to get the job he's not qualified for? It looks like this "Bonus Gate" affair and the pace of it's prosecution are being timed to help get Corbett free press for his election bid for Governor. We're paying for him and his staff to run for Governor...and then if he fails, he's still drawing a pay check, etc as a lame State's Attorney General! Why are we and our legislature letting him to get away with that? What about the Parole Board Corruption he's been told about, with evidence, for years now? What about the "Rendell Murders"? What about his repeated betrayal of public trust? Who investigates the Attorney General? Who does he answer to... by his own repeated lack of action... it's not the good, decent families of Pennsylvania! Why isn't the U.S. Attorney General (Eric Holder) investigating Tom Corbett!?— John Law
MONEY AND JUSTICE DON'T MIX
WILL THE NEW COUNCIL GIVE YOU A SAY?
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215-854-5855
juliana.f.reyes@gmail.com
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