Pa. AG shuts down corruption sting when too many fellow Dems caught redhanded

[happyg]

It started as a plea arrangement between a lobbyist arrested for fraud and the Republican attorney general of the state of Pennsylvania. And it ended not with a bang but a whimper by the new Democratic attorney general, who shut down the investigation without filing a single charge.

Philly.com quotes Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane, who took office in 2013, as telling the Inquirer that the investigation was “poorly conceived, badly managed, and tainted by racism, saying it had targeted African Americans.”

The undercover sting, begun three years ago by Kane’s predecessor, Republican Tom Corbett, captured leading Philadelphia Democrats, including four local members of the state’s House delegation, on tape accepting money. The lobbyist who agreed to wear a wire and tape officials reacting to offers of cash and/or gifts is Tyron B. Ali, 40, who was arrested in a $430,000 fraud case.

“Sources with knowledge of the sting said the investigation made financial pitches to both Republicans and Democrats, but only Democrats accepted the payments,” said the Inquirer.


Four state lawmakers took money, the sources said. State Rep. Ronald G. Waters accepted multiple payments totaling $7,650; State Rep. Vanessa Brown took $4,000; State Rep. Michelle Brownlee received $3,500; and State Rep. Louise Bishop took $1,500, said people with knowledge of the investigation.

In the Brown exchange, Ali paid a visit to the representative in her office and “handed her an envelope with $2,000, according to people who have reviewed a transcript of a tape Ali made on that day.”

As Brown accepted the money, they said, she put it in her purse and said: “Yo, good looking and Ooowee…. Thank you twice.”

After he gave Brown the money, Ali urged her to vote against a bill that would require voters to show identification at the polls, the sources said.

The Inquirer described how the investigation had gathered 400 hours of audio and video recordings of Ali meeting with public officials. But soon after Kane’s inauguration in 2013 as the first female and Democrat Attorney General in the state’s history, she began shutting the investigation down.

She told the Inquirer the allegations are a political, sexist, and racist attack from her Republican enemies: “Nothing more than the Good Ol’ Boys club playing political games to discredit me in order to fulfill their own selfish and improper agenda.”

The story is rocketing through Philadelphia business and political circles. Some say the results of the investigation are just “business as usual.” Others criticize the past three Attorneys General for working with Ali, who has also been charged with violations of election law.

Said one friend of Kane to the Inquirer: “Is this a John Grisham novel?”

Read more at http://libertyunyielding.com/2014/03/17/pa-ag-shuts-corruption-sting-many-fellow-dems-caught-redhanded/#dHqD2mPdwTdWiMQl.99

[aligncare]

Philly.com quotes Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane, who took office in 2013, as telling the Inquirer that the investigation was “poorly conceived, badly managed, and tainted by racism, saying it had targeted African Americans.”

Yeah, right ....

[Gazoo]

Wow.

Those who favored the sting believe Kane killed a solid investigation, led by experienced prosecutor Frank G. Fina, that had ensnared several public officials and had the potential to capture more. They said they were outraged at Kane's allegation that race had played a role in the case.

Before Kane ended the investigation, sources familiar with the inquiry said, prosecutors amassed 400 hours of audio and videotape that documented at least four city Democrats taking payments in cash or money orders, and in one case a $2,000 Tiffany bracelet.

Typically, the payments made at any one time were relatively modest - ranging from $500 to $2,000 - but most of those involved accepted multiple payments, people familiar with the investigation said. In some cases, the payments were offered in exchange for votes or contracts, they said.

Sources with knowledge of the sting said the investigation made financial pitches to both Republicans and Democrats, but only Democrats accepted the payments.

The investigation's undercover operative was a little-known lobbyist, Tyron B. Ali, 40, who agreed to wear a wire and tape the officials to win favorable treatment after his arrest in a $430,000 fraud case, the newspaper has learned.

In an unusual move, the Attorney General's Office then dropped the fraud charges secretly, under seal, last fall.

Robert J. Levant, a lawyer for Ali, said neither he nor his client would have any comment.

People with knowledge of the investigation said those caught on tape included former Traffic Court Judge Thomasine Tynes, who acknowledged that Ali gave her the bracelet.

Four state lawmakers took money, the sources said. State Rep. Ronald G. Waters accepted multiple payments totaling $7,650; State Rep. Vanessa Brown took $4,000; State Rep. Michelle Brownlee received $3,500; and State Rep. Louise Bishop took $1,500, said people with knowledge of the investigation.

Bishop denied receiving money. Brownlee said she couldn't recall taking a payment, and Brown declined to discuss the matter.

Sources say that as money changed hands, the conversations were often blunt.

In May 2011, Ali went to Brown's office and handed her an envelope with $2,000, according to people who have reviewed a transcript of a tape Ali made on that day.

As Brown accepted the money, they said, she put it in her purse and said: "Yo, good looking and Ooowee. . . . Thank you twice."

After he gave Brown the money, Ali urged her to vote against a bill that would require voters to show identification at the polls, the sources said.

Brown voted against the measure - as did every other Democrat in the House.

In an interview Saturday, Brown's lawyer, Wadud Ahmad, said she had done nothing wrong. He said he had not been contacted by law enforcement and knew little about the investigation.

Ahmad, a former prosecutor, said, "I have never seen a prosecutor or any federal agent give someone a pass when they have strong evidence that they did something wrong."

[happyg]

I read that they aren't just democrats, but all are black. Another reason to stop the investigation.

[Bigun]

I read that they aren't just democrats, but all are black. Another reason to stop the investigation.

Dirty is dirty regardless of skin color!

[happyg]

Dirty is dirty regardless of skin color!

True, but some skin colors in politics have an advantage.

[Bigun]

True, but some skin colors in politics have an advantage.

All the pigs are equal but some pigs are more equal than others!

Seems like I read that somewhere awhile back!

[happyg]

All the pigs are equal but some pigs are more equal than others!

Seems like I read that somewhere awhile back!

There's nothing like a good blt or ham sandwich!!