Former Pa. Treasurer Rob McCord gets 30 months sentence in federal prison

Today, Former Democratic Pa. state treasurer Rob McCord was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for attempting to use his public office to “strong-arm political contributions” during his unsuccessful 2014 bid for Governor, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.  

McCord, 59, was also fined $5,200 and ordered to report to prison in 60 days according to the Morning Call.

McCord resigned from his position as State Treasurer in January 2015.

In the federal court hearing today, McCord expressed his feelings on the matter.  

“I want to apologize again. I want to apologize to the people of Pennsylvania,” McCord said. “I broke the law.” He said what he did “was not only illegal, it was wrong. I feel horrible,” according to the Inquirer.

U.S. District Court Judge John E. Jones III, detailed that McCord broke the law, but was also critical of Pennsylvania’s campaign finance laws in the process.  

“You unfortunately seem to be the the poster child for the need for reform,” Jones said today, according to the Morning Call.

The following month after McCord resigned from his role as State Treasurer in 2015, he pleaded guilty in U.S. Middle District Court to trying to extort a total of $125,000 from two businesses, according to the Morning Call.

McCord was seeking $125,000 in donations from two firms, $25,000 from the managing partner of a Philadelphia law firm and up to $100,000 from the owners of a western Pennsylvania property management firm. He threatened to interfere with the firms’ ability to get state contracts if they did not provide the donation, if he lost the election.    

7 Responses

  1. Not defending McCord’s clearly unethical behavior, but he got really horrible legal advice. This would have been tough to prove in a court.

  2. As a Dem and a Pennsylvanian, I say good riddance to bad rubbish. We are all better for this act of justice.

  3. Why has this taken 4 years since his “extortion” was reported, and 3 years since he plead guilty?

    1. Uncalled for. Reflective of a troglodyte mentality. Why’nt you just pick your nose and smear boogers on the screen? Oh; maybe you already do….

    2. That is a really low blow. He is married to an African American. If you ever met Rob, there isn’t a nicer guy in the world. He made a mistake and will serve his time. Sad all around

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