Culture of Corruption OK Outside Beltway?

Based on this AP report, that's what it sounds like. I'll bet that Nancy Pelosi won't be outraged by this:
The FBI arrested two aides to a powerful state senator Wednesday for allegedly deleting "electronic evidence" including e-mail to thwart a federal investigation of their boss. Leonard P. Luchko and Mark Eister had been assigned to do computer work for state Sen. Vincent J. Fumo, a Philadelphia Democrat. Both were charged with obstruction of justice, federal prosecutors said.

"This was a deliberate, systematic, and ultimately successful effort to interfere with a federal investigation," U.S. Attorney Patrick Meehan said. Fumo has not been charged with wrongdoing. The affidavit does not name Fumo directly but refers to an unidentified senator. Federal authorities said the inquiry focuses on whether Fumo "used his authority and official position to attempt to demand and obtain payments" from corporations to a South Philadelphia nonprofit. Investigators are trying to find out if the senator "benefited both politically and personally from expenditures made by the organization," according to the court documents.
To be fair, we'll give Luchko and Eister the benefit of the doubt until trial but I can't believe that the FBI just goes around arresting or investigating congressmen without having something compelling to point them in that direction. It's also worth noting U.S. Attorney Patrick Meehan's wording "This was a deliberate, systematic, and ultimately successful effort to interfere with a federal investigation." Unlike grandstanding Pennsylvania congressmen, U.S. attorneys aren't in the habit of making such categorical statements.
The nonprofit, Citizens' Alliance for Better Neighborhoods, has obtained millions of dollars in donations from powerful entities that lobby the Legislature. Federal investigators said they have been looking into the charity since 2003. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Fumo and Peco Energy Co. had a secret deal under which Peco donated $17 million to the charity, and prosecutors say they have numerous e-mails from third-party sources that show Fumo used the nonprofit to funnel money to projects and causes important to him.
That doesn't sound good for Mr. Fumo. If they've collected "numerous emails" showing that "Fumo used the nonprofit to funnel money to projects and causes important to him", then he's in a bunch of trouble. Assuming that the FBI obtained a valid search warrant for collecting these emails, there's only one way that a jury won't hear them and that's if Mr. Fumo pleads guilty before trial.


Posted Wednesday, May 31, 2006 1:38 PM

No comments.

Popular posts from this blog

March 21-24, 2016

Image
Mar 21 01:28 SCSU's budget cuts? Mar 21 02:29 When will the Range change? Mar 21 08:54 DFL's Marty in charge of environment Mar 21 11:45 OLA report, DFL & Meyer Associates Mar 23 12:48 Liberals' definition of moderate Mar 23 14:37 DFL activists: Government is racist Mar 24 08:59 IRRRB: Revamping vs. scrapping Prior Months: Jan Feb Prior Years: 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 SCSU's budget cuts? Cuts in Athletics at SCSU - Will it Really Save Money? by Silence Dogood With a $6,000,000 "structural deficit" and the need to "rebuild reserves by at least $3 million," SCSU has a $9,000,000 hole in its' FY17 budget. It doesn't take a Noble Prize in economics to figure out that reductions in expenditures (i.e., cuts) are going to be made at SCSU. On the Wednesday before Spring Break, SCSU President Dr. Earl H. Potter sent an email to the campus community announcing cuts to the athlet
Read more

January 19-20, 2012

Image
Jan 19 02:57 Minnesota Majority report an indictment against Minnesota's election integrity Jan 19 03:41 Ron Paul's Logic Jan 19 08:08 Newt thrives despite Mitt's hatchet job efforts Jan 19 09:19 Potential Game-Changer: Perry dropping out this am Jan 20 05:12 Newt takes Sen. Santorum to proverbial woodshed Jan 20 00:56 ABC, CNN, crawl into bed with National Enquirer Jan 20 04:00 Child Care small businesses file federal lawsuit Jan 20 04:41 Mitt's biggest policy blunder Jan 20 18:58 Gingrich, Reagan re-united Prior Years: 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Newt takes Sen. Santorum to proverbial woodshed Rick Santorum was really feeling it Thursday night. Then he said something that's certain to cause him pain this morning. Here's what he said that got him in trouble: SANTORUM: But you also have to admit that this freshman congressman who wasn't supposed to win a race came and did something you never did, which is blew the li
Read more

October 31, 2007

Oct 31 01:01 Media Matter's Alter Ego? Oct 31 03:32 Iraqi Civilian Casualties Dropping Oct 31 10:52 Hillary's Panderfest Blows Up in Her Face Oct 31 13:15 Brod, Emmer Call For Investigation of Mark Ritchie Oct 31 19:43 Ritchie's 'Episode' a Tempest in a Teapot? Prior Months: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Prior Years: 2006 Media Matter's Alter Ego? One Media Matters-like organization is already too many. It appears as though there's another liberal apologist blog out there. Their name is News Hounds . The post that caught my attention dealt with last weekend's interview of Justin and Darryl Sharraltt on Hannity's America. To say that their post didn't attempt to refute Justin's story is understatement. In fact, they jump right into criticizing Mr. Hannity: Last night's (October 27th) Hannity's America was a strange magazine format which combined stories about mediums and haunted houses
Read more