FORMER SPEAKER OF PA HOUSE IS CHARGED

Former Pennsylvania House Speaker John Perzel charged in corruption probe
By Express-Times staff and wire
November 12, 2009, 1:44PM
Former Pennsylvania House Speaker John Perzel was among 10 people connected to the House Republican caucus charged today in a new phase of a legislative corruption probe into the misuse of public resources and employees for campaign purposes.

Attorney General Tom Corbett said a grand jury found that Perzel, a Philadelphia Republican, was the architect of an illegal scheme in which more than $10 million in taxpayer money was spent to help win political campaigns.

Also charged in the ongoing grand jury probe were Perzel's former chief of staff, Brian Preski, and former House GOP counsel Brett Feese. The charges revolve around the use of taxpayer money to purchase voter data, computer software and services to buttress House GOP campaign efforts, and efforts to cover it up, Corbett said.

Perzel released a statement concerning the "Bonusgate" charges.

"First and foremost, I am innocent of the charges against me. I have faithfully served the people of my district, my city and my state for more than 30 years, and I have never used public funds for my personal or political gain," he says.

Corbett announced the latest charges, which include theft, conspiracy, conflict of interest and obstruction of justice, at a Thursday news conference at his Harrisburg office.

They come 16 months after Corbett's office charged a dozen people connected to the House Democratic caucus, including former Democratic Whip Michael Veon, with similar offenses.

Corbett, who is seeking the 2010 GOP nomination for governor, had been criticized for charging only Democrats. He said the investigation was continuing and that more arrests were anticipated. Perzel attacks the timing in his statement.

"It smacks of political opportunism at the expense of my reputation, and I am going to fight very aggressively to prove my innocence," he says.