HARRISBURG, Pa. AP – A state lawmaker, a former legislative leader and 10 other people connected to the state House Democratic caucus were charged Thursday over allegations that millions of taxpayer dollars were illegally siphoned to underwrite political campaigns.
Pennsylvania prosecutors filed the theft, conflict of interest and conspiracy charges after grand jurors found that legislative employees got taxpayer-funded bonuses for doing campaign work; state computers and equipment were commandeered for political campaigning; and public contracts were issued for partisan purposes. Some of the bonuses issued in 2005 and 2006 were well over $20,000.
