Pa. rep found to be a sleaze

A man of conviction, state Rep. Bill DeWeese (center) says he's running for re-election, despite having been found guilty of using state workers to do political errands. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

DeWeese guilty of using tax $ to have aides do campaign work

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Posted: February 07, 2012

HARRISBURG - A jury yesterday convicted state Rep. Bill DeWeese on all but one of six charges in the latest corruption trial stemming from a five-year investigation into the use by state legislators of taxpayers' resources for political purposes.

DeWeese, 61, was convicted of felony counts of conspiracy, of conflict of interest and of three counts of theft. The Dauphin County jury acquitted him of one other theft count.

The verdict, reached early on the third day of deliberations, struck a grave blow to the 35-year career of the former floor leader, who also once served as House speaker.

DeWeese said that he intended to keep his House seat - despite a constitutional provision interpreted to bar any felon from serving in public office - and continue his re-election campaign in his southwestern Pennsylvania district.

"I believe that, in the court of public opinion, I shall be favorably received to some substantial degree," the Greene County lawmaker said. "That's up to the voters, but I certainly will continue to run."

Lead prosecutor Ken Brown said that the conviction will cost DeWeese his House seat and state pension.

"He's a convicted felon and convicted felons, once they're sentenced, can't sit in the General Assembly," said Brown, a senior deputy attorney general. "If he wants to spit in the face of the jury's verdict, I guess that's his prerogative."

County President Judge Todd Hoover, the trial judge, set sentencing for April 24, which is also the date of Pennsylvania's primary election.

During seven days of testimony, prosecutors relied heavily on testimony by people who worked for DeWeese that campaign work was an integral part of their jobs.

DeWeese oversaw hundreds of caucus employees during his two decades as the House Democratic leader, but said he delegated responsibility for day-to-day operations to others. He said he realized only after the probe began in early 2007 that many employees were not filing required paperwork to show that their campaign activity was on their own time.

Eleven other Democrats and nine Republicans, including former House Speaker John Perzel, have been convicted or pleaded guilty in the investigation.