The investigation by Corbett's office, begun within the last week, involves several dozen voter signatures submitted last month by conservative Jim Schneller in his successful bid to get on the Nov. 2 ballot in the Seventh District alongside the major-party candidates, Republican Pat Meehan and Democrat Bryan Lentz.
The forgery allegations came from James Gardner Colins, a lawyer for the Meehan campaign, which last month hired a handwriting expert to study Schneller's signatures. Colins relayed his concerns to Michael Green, the Delaware County district attorney, who in turn handed the case off to Corbett.
Corbett, as a Republican, is supporting Meehan in the congressional race, which will determine a successor to Rep. Joe Sestak, who is giving up the House seat to run for the Senate.
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dan Onorato, in a statement issued Wednesday from his Pittsburgh campaign office, said the case showed a propensity by Corbett to use his post for political purposes.
Onorato said that while speedily taking on the Schneller petitions, Corbett had dragged his feet in completing an investigation he began in March into Meehan's election petitions. That case also was referred to Corbett's office by Green.
Schneller last week sued Corbett and acting Pennsylvania Secretary of State Basil Merenda, seeking to force completion of the Meehan probe before the election.
Gregory Harvey, a veteran Philadelphia election lawyer not involved in the case, said that suit appeared to him to have little chance of forcing Corbett's hand.
Since spring, Onorato said, Corbett also has steered clear of a battle between GOP factions in Philadelphia that involves election-fraud claims. He contended Corbett was afraid to hurt his own election chances by wading into a party feud.
