Attorney General Tom Corbett has done a disservice to all Pennsylvanians and House Democrats in particular by announcing this week that he will file no more charges in the legislative bonus investigation before Election Day.
We maintain that’s a crock designed to aid his fellow Republicans (and himself, since he’s running for re-election).
The investigation into the bonuses paid to legislative staff members — mostly in exchange for campaign work — was announced in January 2007, meaning we’re in the 22nd month of the thing. Yet, to this point (back in July) only House Democrats have felt the sting of actual charges.
House Democratic staffers are accused of doing wrong, and they will face their day in court. They are at a disadvantage in the court of public opinion at election time because the attorney general, of the opposing party, decided that 22-plus months was only time enough for one-fourth of the investigation to yield criminal charges. At this rate, Corbett can milk the probe for at least one more legislative election — maybe more.
http://www.ldnews.com/opinion/ci_10579028