Near Harrisburg Friday ten Republicans accused of using taxpayer money and public employees to help Republican campaigns were in court.
All face charges in the latest round of the so-called Bonusgate investigation.
A current state representative, a former representative from Lycoming County and eight other current or former aides were formally charged with theft, conspiracy and some with obstruction of justice.
Former State Representative Brett Feese of the Muncy area was silent on his way into court near Harrisburg. He was the only one facing charges who was not in handcuffs. His attorney said the treatment of the others was, "truly regrettable."
"The heightening of that anxiety level by the gratuitous, medieval cruelty that was imposed on all these defendants when they were instructed by the attorney general to surrender to a police station, not a magistrate," said Feese's attorney Josh Lock.
Nine others, including former Speaker of the House John Perzel were brought into court wearing cuffs as reporters clamored for answers, shining the spotlight once again on alleged corruption in the state capitol.
Thursday Attorney General Tom Corbett announced the charges, saying it has taken two years to investigate the alleged campaign scheme, a scheme Corbett claimed was masterminded by former Speaker of the House Perzel after he narrowly won re-election in 2000
"The grand jury found that John Perzel was the architect behind the sophisticated criminal strategy purely for campaign work," Corbett said Thursday.
Court papers allege Perzel worked with his staff to use taxpayer money to the tune of about $10-million in order to create computer software and buy voter information that would help win GOP elections.
Perzel claims he is innocent.
"John's innocent. This is the beginning of a long journey and it begins today," said Perzel's attorney Brian McMonagle.
At the time of the alleged corruption Brett Feese was the attorney for the State Republican House Caucus and is accused of trying to cover up the alleged misuse of taxpayer money. His attorney expects the case to go to trial.
"If you're booking reservations for the trial, don't cancel them," said Lock.
If convicted, those charged could serve years behind bars and so the attorney general's office said the use of handcuffs even after the suspects turned themselves in was justified.
"The office of attorney general makes no distinction between white collar defendants or any other kind of defendant that are charged with these types of felonies. If you commit a felony, you get handcuffed," said Ken Brown of the state attorney general's office.
All ten of those charged were released on bail.
All face charges in the latest round of the so-called Bonusgate investigation.
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Former State Representative Brett Feese of the Muncy area was silent on his way into court near Harrisburg. He was the only one facing charges who was not in handcuffs. His attorney said the treatment of the others was, "truly regrettable."
"The heightening of that anxiety level by the gratuitous, medieval cruelty that was imposed on all these defendants when they were instructed by the attorney general to surrender to a police station, not a magistrate," said Feese's attorney Josh Lock.
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Thursday Attorney General Tom Corbett announced the charges, saying it has taken two years to investigate the alleged campaign scheme, a scheme Corbett claimed was masterminded by former Speaker of the House Perzel after he narrowly won re-election in 2000
"The grand jury found that John Perzel was the architect behind the sophisticated criminal strategy purely for campaign work," Corbett said Thursday.
Court papers allege Perzel worked with his staff to use taxpayer money to the tune of about $10-million in order to create computer software and buy voter information that would help win GOP elections.
Perzel claims he is innocent.
"John's innocent. This is the beginning of a long journey and it begins today," said Perzel's attorney Brian McMonagle.
At the time of the alleged corruption Brett Feese was the attorney for the State Republican House Caucus and is accused of trying to cover up the alleged misuse of taxpayer money. His attorney expects the case to go to trial.
"If you're booking reservations for the trial, don't cancel them," said Lock.
If convicted, those charged could serve years behind bars and so the attorney general's office said the use of handcuffs even after the suspects turned themselves in was justified.
"The office of attorney general makes no distinction between white collar defendants or any other kind of defendant that are charged with these types of felonies. If you commit a felony, you get handcuffed," said Ken Brown of the state attorney general's office.
All ten of those charged were released on bail.
