Another Senator Accused of Illegal Activities: Swingers Discussion 73159

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TOPIC: Another Senator Accused of Illegal Activities

Created by: SensuousAndNasty Original Starting post for this thread:
Pa. Senator Indicted on 139 Counts Tuesday, February 6, 2007 1:16 PM EST The Associated Press By MARYCLAIRE DALE PHILADELPHIA (AP) — State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo, one of the most powerful figures in Pennsylvania politics, was indicted Tuesday on 139 federal counts alleging he used a nonprofit group for personal and political gain and defrauded the state Senate out of $1 million. Many of the charges stem from Fumo's ties to a nonprofit agency in his South Philadelphia district. Authorities had been investigating the Citizens' Alliance for Better Neighborhoods for more than four years. The group was started by Fumo aides in 1991 to serve the neighborhood where he grew up. The 267-page indictment included wire fraud, mail fraud, obstruction of justice, conspiracy, mail fraud and tax counts. It also accused Fumo of engaging in a systematic cover-up through the destruction of e-mails and other electronic records. U.S. Attorney Patrick Meehan said Fumo used Senate employees for his personal benefit and abused his authority to hire Senate contractors. "Fumo not only abused the Senate purse by paying employees who solely or partially did personal and political work for him, but further defrauded the Senate by overpaying employees who did both official and personal tasks," the indictment said. Fumo, anticipating the indictment on Monday, temporarily stepped down as the ranking Democrat on the appropriations committee but remains in the Senate. The Philadelphia Democrat, who has beaten two previous indictments, promised to clear his name. "I know in my heart that I have not done anything illegal," the 63-year-old lawyer and banker said. Prosecutors said the Senate lost more than $1 million as Fumo "systematically, routinely, and improperly used the funds and resources of the Senate for his personal and political benefit." "He directed that Senate employees and contractors employed by the Senate serve him in any manner he desired, throughout the regular workday and at all hours of the day and night, to further his political goals and attend to his personal wants," prosecutors said. The indictment also charges the group's longtime executive director, Ruth Arnao, and it names two ex-Senate staffers who already had been charged with obstructing the investigation by deleting years worth of e-mail about Fumo's ties to the charity.

Created by: SensuousAndNasty
Original Starting post for this thread:

Pa. Senator Indicted on 139 Counts
Tuesday, February 6, 2007 1:16 PM EST
The Associated Press
By MARYCLAIRE DALE

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo, one of the most powerful figures in Pennsylvania politics, was indicted Tuesday on 139 federal counts alleging he used a nonprofit group for personal and political gain and defrauded the state Senate out of $1 million.

Many of the charges stem from Fumo's ties to a nonprofit agency in his South Philadelphia district.

Authorities had been investigating the Citizens' Alliance for Better Neighborhoods for more than four years. The group was started by Fumo aides in 1991 to serve the neighborhood where he grew up.

The 267-page indictment included wire fraud, mail fraud, obstruction of justice, conspiracy, mail fraud and tax counts. It also accused Fumo of engaging in a systematic cover-up through the destruction of e-mails and other electronic records.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Meehan said Fumo used Senate employees for his personal benefit and abused his authority to hire Senate contractors.

"Fumo not only abused the Senate purse by paying employees who solely or partially did personal and political work for him, but further defrauded the Senate by overpaying employees who did both official and personal tasks," the indictment said.

Fumo, anticipating the indictment on Monday, temporarily stepped down as the ranking Democrat on the appropriations committee but remains in the Senate.

The Philadelphia Democrat, who has beaten two previous indictments, promised to clear his name.

"I know in my heart that I have not done anything illegal," the 63-year-old lawyer and banker said.

Prosecutors said the Senate lost more than $1 million as Fumo "systematically, routinely, and improperly used the funds and resources of the Senate for his personal and political benefit."

"He directed that Senate employees and contractors employed by the Senate serve him in any manner he desired, throughout the regular workday and at all hours of the day and night, to further his political goals and attend to his personal wants," prosecutors said.

The indictment also charges the group's longtime executive director, Ruth Arnao, and it names two ex-Senate staffers who already had been charged with obstructing the investigation by deleting years worth of e-mail about Fumo's ties to the charity.

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User Details are only visible to members.	I think he should be fired and replaced 8-) What good is someone who will never be trusted by the people around him any longer. How effective can he be.. No stepping down, no resign and no pension!
Bridgeport PA			Username hidden (12781 post)

User Details are only visible to members.	No problem - it's just why I was confused a bit by your question. I think we'd both agree that the body politic would be better off with that particular abcess lanced.
Austin TX			Username hidden (378 post)

User Details are only visible to members.	Stepping down usually leaves the door open for stepping back up. Resignation closes that door.
Austin TX			Username hidden (378 post)

User Details are only visible to members.	You can't "step down" from an elected seat - you can resign, which means that you no longer hold the seat until the next election. Unless PA law is very unique, there are probably no provisions for a temporary replacement. He did step down from Committees, which is appropriate. And nobody under that kind of indictment should hold any leadership positions. Personally, yeah - I'd say he should resign. But I'm not his constituent - and as we've seen from the William Jefferson case, when he got re-elected even while much of the Democratic establishment was working to defeat him (the final runoff was Jefferson versus another Democrat) - voters can decide some strange things.
Austin TX			Username hidden (378 post)

User Details are only visible to members.	Same. Note that also this is a State Senator. FWIW, national media rarely focusses as much on the party affiliations of state politicians, rather than Federal. OTOH, I seem to remember the fact that William Jefferson is a Democrat being pretty prominent in the media when he got busted.
Austin TX			Username hidden (378 post)

User Details are only visible to members.	I know you guys are waiting on a liberal to support State Senator Fumo but this one is gonna disappoint you. If this Senator is investigated and found guilty, then he should get the punishment he deserves. No defense on my part.
St Petersburg FL			Username hidden (989 post)

User Details are only visible to members.	Gary, I also found it odd (biased?) that he was not acknowedged as a Democrat as quickly or right by his name as republicans are.
Minden NV			Username hidden (4041 post)

User Details are only visible to members.	Intresting...it took seven paragraphs for the story to say that he was a democrat...........Let it be a republican.
Fayetteville GA			Username hidden (2075 post)

User Details are only visible to members.	Pa. Senator Indicted on 139 Counts Tuesday, February 6, 2007 1:16 PM EST The Associated Press By MARYCLAIRE DALE PHILADELPHIA (AP) — State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo, one of the most powerful figures in Pennsylvania politics, was indicted Tuesday on 139 federal counts alleging he used a nonprofit group for personal and political gain and defrauded the state Senate out of $1 million. Many of the charges stem from Fumo's ties to a nonprofit agency in his South Philadelphia district. Authorities had been investigating the Citizens' Alliance for Better Neighborhoods for more than four years. The group was started by Fumo aides in 1991 to serve the neighborhood where he grew up. The 267-page indictment included wire fraud, mail fraud, obstruction of justice, conspiracy, mail fraud and tax counts. It also accused Fumo of engaging in a systematic cover-up through the destruction of e-mails and other electronic records. U.S. Attorney Patrick Meehan said Fumo used Senate employees for his personal benefit and abused his authority to hire Senate contractors. "Fumo not only abused the Senate purse by paying employees who solely or partially did personal and political work for him, but further defrauded the Senate by overpaying employees who did both official and personal tasks," the indictment said. Fumo, anticipating the indictment on Monday, temporarily stepped down as the ranking Democrat on the appropriations committee but remains in the Senate. The Philadelphia Democrat, who has beaten two previous indictments, promised to clear his name. "I know in my heart that I have not done anything illegal," the 63-year-old lawyer and banker said. Prosecutors said the Senate lost more than $1 million as Fumo "systematically, routinely, and improperly used the funds and resources of the Senate for his personal and political benefit." "He directed that Senate employees and contractors employed by the Senate serve him in any manner he desired, throughout the regular workday and at all hours of the day and night, to further his political goals and attend to his personal wants," prosecutors said. The indictment also charges the group's longtime executive director, Ruth Arnao, and it names two ex-Senate staffers who already had been charged with obstructing the investigation by deleting years worth of e-mail about Fumo's ties to the charity.
Minden NV			Username hidden (4041 post)

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TOPIC: Another Senator Accused of Illegal Activities

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