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Corbett guv run tainted by conflict of interest charges?

By CHRIS BRENNAN
Philadelphia Daily News

brennac@phillynews.com 215-854-5973

State Attorney General Tom Corbett, now running for governor, met with state Rep. John Perzel, of Philadelphia, at a Harrisburg hotel in October 2007.

Two months later, Brian Preski, Perzel's former chief of staff, organized a campaign fundraiser for Corbett.

In state politics, nothing about either event would seem strange. A high-profile elected official is expected to meet with members of his political party while seeking the state's highest office.

But Corbett's office at the time was actively investigating Perzel and Preski and others in the state General Assembly in what is now a 21-month probe known as "Bonusgate."

Corbett charged 12 Democratic legislators and staffers in July 2008 with theft, criminal conspiracy and conflict of interest. Indictments against Republicans could come as soon as today.

Corbett is taking shots from both Republicans and Democrats for campaigning while serving as the state's top prosecutor in a massive political-corruption case.

U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach, a rival in the May 2010 Republican primary election, has hammered Corbett for "seeking political support of GOP legislators, party leaders and key contributors" while leading the investigation.

"I think the perception has been out there for quite a while that Tom Corbett has a conflict of interest that needed to be resolved," Gerlach's campaign manager, Scott Migli, said this week.

Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox, running for the Democratic nomination, last week called Corbett's dual roles "dangerous" since it "creates a terrible perception among voters that government decisions are not being made in the public interest - but in their own self-interests."

'Several matters'

John Zimmerman, a top staffer for Perzel, scheduled the Oct. 2, 2007, meeting with Corbett at a restaurant in the Harrisburg Hilton & Towers.

Also attending was Brian Nutt, Corbett's chief of staff, who is now his campaign manager.

Nutt this week said that he recalled that the topic of the meeting was "related to official duties" - Perzel wanted to give Corbett information about computer software that could be used to track registered sex offenders.

Corbett's run for governor probably came up during the meeting, Nutt said. "I'm sure somebody said something like: 'How are your chances?' " he added.

Perzel's attorney, Walter Cohen, told the Daily News that Perzel recalls that "several matters were discussed but he is not prepared to discuss it with you at this time."

Cohen, a former attorney general, said that it was up to Corbett to say whether the meeting with Perzel was appropriate.

"John Perzel met with anybody who wanted to meet with him - government officials, constituents, private citizens, lobbyists, lawyers - and felt all that was appropriate," Cohen said.

The Bonusgate probe is focused on $3.6 million in state money doled out in 2005 and 2006 to General Assembly staffers who did work on political campaigns.

Corbett and his staff have repeatedly said from the start of the probe in February 2007 that the actions of Democrats and Republicans were being studied, regardless of party affiliation.

The state House Republican Caucus received its first subpoenas in the probe three weeks after Corbett met with Perzel.

Zimmerman, who went on to become the open-records officer for the caucus, was the first Republican staffer called to testify before the grand jury in the case, the Harrisburg Patriot-News reported in June 2008.

Appearance of a conflict

Preski was point man for a Corbett fundraiser on Dec. 11, 2007, at the Philadelphia law offices of WolfBlock. Preski had already contributed $500 to Corbett's campaign. That money was refunded to Preski in February 2008.

Nutt said that Corbett decided after the probe began to decline contributions from state legislators. That policy was expanded - Nutt wasn't sure if it was late 2007 or early 2008 - to included people employed by legislators.

That's why Preski's contribution was returned, Nutt said.

Corbett realized early on in the probe that contributions from legislators could look troublesome.

"Quite frankly, it's the appearance of a conflict more than anything else," Nutt said, noting that the ban on contributions from legislators was voluntary and not mandated by state law.

A former WolfBlock partner who is active in politics and who asked to remain anonymous for this story recalled the fundraiser that Preski ran for Corbett at the firm.

"Brian helped a lot of people," the partner said. "I think at that time nobody suspected that Brian was in any trouble."

WolfBlock, which announced in March that the firm was dissolving, spent $1,044.95 on food and beverages for the 2007 Corbett fundraiser, records show.

The focus on Preski in the investigation is likely the $31,900 he received in state-funded bonuses in 2005 and 2006, when he did political work on the side for Perzel while keeping his state post.

Investigators are also examining whether a state-funded database used to track voter-registration information was improperly used by House Republicans like Perzel for political purposes.

Preski and his attorney declined to comment about the Corbett fundraiser or the ongoing investigation.

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Comments

Posted 08:22 AM, 11/12/2009

CommonSense4Philly

Corbett's henchman Nutt's comment demonstrates both his and Corbett's lack of integrity and selective memory. Corbett is the kind of person who never ran anything and can only make headlines by indicting people. It would not be out of character for Corbett to indict Perzel, his secretaries and maybe even his dog (if he has one) to get elected.

Posted 08:23 AM, 11/12/2009

rabbit23

so Corbett declines contributions from legislators but not fundraisers from them? ridiculous. I have always felt like Corbett is underqualified. Meehan took down Fumo - and all Corbett can brag of is Veon and Manzo? cmon...

Posted 09:31 AM, 11/12/2009

John Law

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 18 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.

Posted 11:36 AM, 11/12/2009

John Law

Why is this person 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!?

Posted 02:46 PM, 11/12/2009

pal

Corbett is so Corrupt. Who in Corbett's AG office Leaked to Republicans to destroy ALL Emails (evidence of bonusgate) - and to Allow ALL PA State Republicans to Replace ALL Computers - before the true investigation began. -- Corrupt Corbett and Useless Gerlach - seriously joking representation of the Republican Party in PA.

Posted 03:00 PM, 11/12/2009

jacksplat

Corbett is surely doing a great job. Both Parties are upset...great! Way to go Tom!

Posted 05:36 PM, 11/12/2009

ironhead

Corbett routinely turns his back on State Police corruption as the AG how worthless will he be as a Gov.. Worthless.

Posted 08:06 PM, 11/12/2009

TomM

From this and other articles/posts on this it looks like the Brady(Rendell/Nutter/Fattah etc) Bunch already have their minions out in force trying to bring down the next Gov of PA, Tom Corbett!