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Perzel, 9 others with GOP, ordered to corruption trials
Thursday, May 27, 2010
By Tracie Mauriello, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
HARRISBURG -- State Rep. John Perzel of Philadelphia, former state Rep. Brett O. Feese of Lycoming and eight associates will face trial in a government corruption case centering on the use of millions of tax dollars for Republican campaign technology.
Dauphin County District Judge William Wenner this afternoon ordered all defendants held for trial. However, he dismissed four charges against Mr. Feese and four against his former secretary Jill Seaman. "Those charges related to accusations they fabricated meeting notes to conceal Mr. Feese's knowledge of the alleged misuse of public funds.
Mr. Feese now faces 58 criminal charges and Mrs. Seaman 42.
Judge Wenner's order came despite arguments from defense attorneys during a preliminary hearing that concluded this morning. The attorneys argued that their clients weren't aware that the campaign technology was paid for with state dollars, that some of that technology also had a legitimate legislative purpose, and that they did not benefit personally from the alleged crimes.
Prosecutors say otherwise.
"All of these defendants -- to a greater or lesser degree -- take what doesn't belong to them. They take money from the public, money to be used for public services -- money for infrastructure and roads -- and they use it for campaigns," Deputy Attorney General Ken Brown said during closing arguments this morning.
"The goal of the overall scheme," he said, "is to take the people's money, convert to their own use" to get re-elected or get their bosses re-elected..."
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http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10147/1061253-100.stm#ixzz0p9t5h353
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