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

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