Milton Street reminds the world he's no felon

T. Milton Street Sr., the former state senator who ran for mayor in 2011 while on supervised release after doing time in federal prison, wants Philadelphia voters to know he is no felon.

Street, a Democrat now mulling another run for mayor, is incensed that Nia Meeks, a regular panelist on 6ABC's Inside Story, referred to him during Sunday's broadcast as a "former felon."

Street spent 26 months in a federal prison and a halfway house after being convicted on three misdemeanor charges of not paying taxes on $3 million in income.

Meeks, communications director for the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, acknowledged her mistake Tuesday.

"I inadvertently misspoke on Sunday," she said. "I apologize for the error."

A producer for 6ABC said Inside Story would issue a retraction when the next show airs Sunday.

Meeks has done consulting for State Sen. Anthony H. Williams, now a candidate for mayor, but said she no longer does political work.

Street took to his Facebook page after the show aired to complain: "Defamation of character at the every beginning of a campaign is hard to overcome."

Sean Stevens, a lawyer representing Street, said the potential mayoral candidate planned "to explore all possible legal remedies in this matter."

Stevens said Meeks' comments were "extremely damaging to my client as he possibly begins his candidacy for mayor of Philadelphia" because it could lead some "potential donors" to think Street is unable to hold public office. The Pennsylvania Constitution bars felons from holding elected office.