Only Black Democrats Took The Bribe
undercover sting operation run by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office captured leading Philadelphia Democrats on tape accepting money. Four of those nabbed are members of the city’s state House delegation. Curiously, although the evidence is clear, not one of them has been charged with committing a crime.
The operation was begun under Republican Attorney General Tom Corbett, in 2010. His Democrat successor, Kathleen G. Kane shut the operation down once she took office.
Her statement to the Philadelphia Inquirer labeled the investigation as poorly conceived, badly managed and tainted by racism. She claimed the sting had deliberately targeted African-Americans.
Those running the operation have an entirely different take on things, claiming it to have been a solid investigation. An experienced prosecutor, Frank G. Fina, was heading up the operation, which had the potential to capture more corrupt politicians at the time it was shut down. Those running the operation were incensed to have their work and their character diminished, particularly by assertions that race played a role in the investigation.
Prior to the plug being pulled, prosecutors had gathered 400 hours of audio and videotape that showed at least four city Democrats taking cash payments. One accepted a $2,000 Tiffany bracelet.
Payments to the officials were generally in the $500 – $2,000 range, and many involved multiple payments. Some payments were in exchange for particular votes or contracts.
Sources within the investigation state that the same financial offers were made to all, regardless of whether they were Republicans or Democrats and regardless of their race. It is unfortunate for some black Democrats that they were the only ones who chose to accept the illicit offers, but the truth is what it is.
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 following his arrest in a $430,000 fraud case. Those charges were dropped under seal in the fall of 2013.
Ali’s attorney, Robert J. Levant, declined to comment.
Among those snared in the sting was a former Traffic Court Judge Thomasine Tynes, who admitted that Ali gave her the bracelet.
Insiders state the payments to the four state legislators included State Rep Ronald G. Waters, $7,650; State Rep Vanessa Brown $4,000, State Rep Michelle Brownlee $3,500; and State Rep Louise Bishop $1,500.
Rep Bishop denied receiving the money, Brownlee said she couldn't recall and Brown declined to talk about it.
Annual disclosures of gifts to lawmakers are not limited but their disclosure is required and the failure to do so is a criminal act punishable by penalties of up to one year in jail.
Attorney General Kane characterized the dispute as “nothing more than the Good Ol’ Boys club playing political games to discredit me in order to fulfill their own selfish and improper agenda.”
Of the assertions back and forth as to the reasons behind Kane’s refusal to prosecute the cases and closure of the investigation, the most blatant are race related, even towards investigators of color.
Kane claims that black legislators, particularly members of the Legislative Black Caucus, were targeted, a charge which is vehemently denied by the agents.
It would seem that with the amount of alleged criminal wrongdoing recorded and largely irrefutable, it would be appropriate to allow a judge or jury to determine whether the means of collecting it violated the law.
Simply disregarding the potential illegalities by elected officials on a premise, not that they didn’t occur, but that they were unfairly exposed as corrupt seems like an extremely weak position.
It almost looks like the Attorney General is attempting to insulate certain people from prosecution. Those people are black members of her own party and she, as a white woman, may feel like she needs the political support of that particular group to enhance her career.
Racism, by whatever group for whatever purposes, shouldn't be rewarded. It also shouldn't be a shield from the law or accountability.
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