Polls, lobbyists and a sidewalk altercation. See who made this week’s list!
John Dougherty. What was John Dougherty thinking? The labor leader had a banner 2015, expanding his power and witnessing his brother being elected to the State Supreme Court. Now, however, Dougherty is under fire because of a physical altercation between himself and another man. According to both versions of the story, the incident began when Dougherty saw a union sticker on the man’s truck and asked him to remove it. What a petty reason to risk one’s reputation. It’s not just Dougherty, though, who has been hurt by this story. As the prominent face of organized labor in the Keystone State, his actions have painted unions in a bad light. With one act, Dougherty hurt the cause he’s fought for his entire life.
Seth Williams. Speaking of the Dougherty case, special mention must be made of the Ray Guy of Pennsylvania. It’s becoming difficult to find an issue the Philly DA doesn’t want to punt on, whether it be the emails of Frank Fina or the conduct of John Dougherty (the former got him included in a fantastic Esquire piece from David Gambacorta).Williams has already been roundly criticized for passing the buck with this case but it’s quite astounding to consider all of his self-inflicted wounds.
Joe Sestak. When we covered last week’s debate, we considered it a draw though it was definitely a Sestak crowd as he won the post-debate straw poll. The Congressman then embarked on another of his customary statewide road-trips, this one on foreign policy. The real victory, though, was the results of the latest Franklin & Marshall poll. While the race is still very much up for grabs, Sestak now holds his largest lead of the race. For now at least, that famous determination looks to be paying off.
Bill Shuster. Oh, how Congressman Shuster hates Politico. The D.C. outlet has been reporting on the Transportation Committee Chair’s relationship with an airline lobbyist over a year now. This week, their piece about Shuster’s efforts to change the air traffic control division was chock full of anecdotes that primary opponent Art Halvorson is using to his advantage. April 26th can’t come soon enough for Rep. Shuster.
Tom Wolf. Of course, this was anything but a good week for the Governor. Nonetheless, we wanted to take his opportunity to wish him the best in his battle against prostate cancer. It was also great to see officials from all stripes come out and publicly do the same. Good luck, Governor.
The tweet of the week goes to the Huffington Post’s Matt Fuller for this golden joke in the midst of the chaos of the Nevada Caucus. The Answer would proud:
We talkin' 'bout a caucus. We talkin' 'bout a caucus, man. Not a primary, not a primary, not a primary. We talkin' 'bout a caucus.
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) February 24, 2016
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62 Responses
So — speaking of Frank Fina, when does his license get suspended? The Superior Court of PA just found that he lied to the Court and that his conduct was “highly improper.”
How is it he still has a law license again?
More bad news for Seth Williams:
http://www.vice.com/read/this-man-is-on-death-row-for-killing-his-alleged-rapist
Here’s some light reading to anyone who follows the Kane/Fina/Williams/McCaffery saga. http://triblive.com/politics/politicalheadlines/6041066-74/mccaffery-kane-ali
Pat – The DA’s office is a mess. The optics of what they are doing is flat out absurd. If they aren’t making biased decisions, they certainly look like they are. Dumb.
The ADA (Kirn) on that homicide case you cite to – with the DNA – is known for being unethical. Ask about ADA Bridget Kirn at the courthouse. See what people say.
Marie – He is a pathetic RETARD troll.
You are correct re: Fina and that story. I pointed that out a month ago. The media helped with the smear campaign. Perhaps they too are afraid of being EXPOSED.
My advice on Sponge Retard — DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS.
Couldn’t disagree more, Bob. You seem to be a Republican troll.
It’s ignored because nobody elected Fina to anything. The only reason you care is because he put you in jail. Fina is an ahole who no one like seemingly. Who cares? Did her run for something? Was he on a ballot? No. So maybe focus on people like Kane who did run and who lied and was caught and will likely be pleading out before her case so it does not drag deep into the election cycle.
For some reason, PPA continues to ignore some very big news on a very big case in Pennsylvania. Hell – the AP even reported on it:
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/85d68be784fe44538233940d1cc93979/some-charges-against-penn-state-ex-administrators-thrown
And it’s not just the fact that it is the PennState case that makes it newsworthy. This site has reported on everything related to Kathleen Kane for over a year. Every time her enemies (led by Frank Fina) wanted to trash her, PPA was there to help them.
Now – the Superior Court of PA finds that Fina’s conduct was “highly improper” and throws out most of the charges against the Penn State administrators.
Big news being ignored here, apparently. Curious.
Who else – beyond the FBI – is investigation Seth Williams? Who else – beyond the Special Prosecutor and the PA Ethics Bpard – is investigating Frank Fina?
Who cares about Kane? Kane is already toast. She will soon be back in Scranton (where she is still immensely popular).
Let’s focus on corrupt ayy-holes who have not already been taken down — guys like John Dougherty, Seth Williams, Frank Fina (his demotion and current role as a non-prosecutor are not enough).
Let’s talk about how Fina arrested some of the commenters on here so every comment on every article is fixated on Fina and not on the fact that they are criminals. Let’s focus on Kane who lied under oath, got caught and now the plot thickens as the wiretaps are floating out there. Who else is investigating Kane?
Umm – the article mentions Frank Fina in the 2nd paragraph. Unbelievably – he is still collecting a salary from Philadelphia taxpayers. And he works at an office that prosecutes Blacks like Bishop but refuses to prosecute Whites like Dougherty.
Guess that is no surprise when you look at Fina’s e-mails (referenced above):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/zadock1/3580634808
This article is NOT about Fina. Let’s talk about Kane and wiretaps that failed to capture her admitting to anything. Let’s pretend that Josh Morrow was not in on Fina’s smear campaign. And – above all else — let’s support TRUMP.
Anyone giving a DOWN ARROW to Seth Williams needs to include that he still pays Frank Fina from taxpayer funds. The same Frank Fina who’s conduce the Superior Court just labeled “highly improper.”
Who is Frank Fina? Why is the DA’s Office in a mutiny about his working there? Why is City Council passing resolutions demanding that he be fired? Why is Seth Williams’ closest political ally calling for Fina to be removed from the City’s payroll? Ask these two women —
1) Sheilah Novasky
She met Frank Fina for the first time while she was waiting to testify before a grand jury in the state’s case against DeWeese. She said she sat in a small room with seven men – including Fina.
Fina repeatedly asked bout two things: How many women on DeWeese’s staff were sleeping with Manzo? And did she know about Frameli’s “breast enhancements”?
Novasky then went before the grand jury. Fina asked her nothing about breasts or Manzo’s sexual relationships.
“I think it was for their own amusement,” Novasky said. “There is a line between intimidation and interrogation and they crossed the lines whenever they concentrated on the sexual antics, which had nothing to do with [the case] …”
“Fina was saying that we were exchanging political emails on state time and that it was illegal,” said Melissa Frameli. “It’s pretty sick that they were doing the same thing that they were screaming at us for – and our emails were related to political work, they weren’t degrading toward women or towards men, they weren’t pornographic in nature.”
2) Melissa Frameli
She recalled that Fina was fixated on her personal relationship with DeWeese’s chief of staff, Michael Manzo, and whether she had spent her bonus money on a “boob job.” He accused her of “whoring around,” unleashing a string of profanity and “F-bombs,” she said. …
“He was completely putting me down and saying I was going to get in trouble for sleeping with my boss. Screaming at me, and saying that I used my bonus to get a boob job and that I was a disgrace, basically . . . I felt very degraded by him. I felt very degraded as a woman.”
Even more reason for Seth Williams’ richly deserved down arrow:
http://mobile.philly.com/beta?wss=/philly/news&id=370449971
DNA clears the guy. and now the DA’s Office just changes their theory to a whole new set of facts. All of a sudden – it was a conspiracy and this poor guy was an accomplice.
This DA’s Office should be investigated. They give FREE PASSES to the likes of Dougherty and Shady, but go ALL OUT on poor guys they wrongly prosecuted and convicted. It really is an outrage.
“What was John Dougherty thinking?” the article asks.
Perhaps he was thinking that he is above the law. That the Office who would prosecute him for a violent attack will turn and look away and ignore the victim of a vicious crime.
Turns out – he was right. Seth Williams should be voted out. I have not met a woman who would vote for him again after he refused to fire those creeps. Now he refuses to do his job. Shame on him.
Awww, Am I stirring up some bad memories from Prison. Should we start listing the counts of what you went to jail for?
They build on the case that she lied. How are you so dumb as to not see that? Did they beat you in jail besides taking turns destroying your manginity? I mean I would have thought after Fina arrested you, someone would have given you a book and taught you something.
SpongeLarryRetardSucBoy — no spin necessary. Kane is not in the tapes. They matter not. Good try, though.
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/investigations/mc-pa-kathleen-kane-fbi-wiretap-20160225-story.html
LOLOLOLOLOL! HaHaHa/Pat Unger and Diano, I can’t wait to see how you two spin this. Obama’s FBI must be part of the good ol’ boys network!
SpongeBuggy – tell your wife not to spend that $20 Pat threw at her all in one place. And tell her to take a shower every once in a while.
Seth Williams went to penn state that’s why he hitched his wagon to Fina. Trying to cover up for Old Main.
Look at you Josh trolls. Get it through your heads you don’t know anything and no one really likes Josh. He’s a republican; one might say a Wolf in Rendells clothing. He’s more arrogant than a Rendell and Wolf put together. The voters won’t buy it. THERES NO BUDGET. !!! Their hopes and dreams of Johnny Doc saving them are over. McGinty comes in last again.! Shapiro last! Maybe Rendell can get u a job for Clinton. The northwest wards in philly are not enough Kenney is not on the ballot. Lol.
What ever happened to the shady Norristown movie deal. Remember that !!! Where’s the fffff money. !!?!? Rendell Groen and Shapiro McGinty hypocritical thieves been sucking of PA teet for decades. Get lost beat it scram
THUMBS DOWN FOR THE PUNTER!!
http://esq.h-cdn.co/assets/16/08/480×612/gallery-1456263949-williams.jpg
Wonder if Seth Williams has asked Frank Fina why it was that he shut down that investigation into Jerry Mondesire/ Seems strange. After all – Seth Williams and Mondesire were very close.
When is Williams going to answer questions? They are starting to pile up!!!!
No DOWN ARROW for the disgraced Eakin?
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2016/02/25/Deal-seen-in-the-works-for-embattled-Justice-Eakin-pennsylvania-pittsburgh-hearing/stories/201602250142
A racist pervert tries to cover-up his misdeeds. And now that the press is making sure the back-room deals get exposed, Eakin himself will actually be held accountable.
Look how upset he looks!! He couldn’t care less all those years when he was holding OTHERS “accountable.”
Agreed, Marie.
The citizens of Philadelphia deserve better. How about a prosecutor that actually PROSECUTES.
So far – he just tries to play hide the ball. The big cases his office has won have black clouds over them. Monsignor Lynn being the biggest. I think the Appeals Court has already overturned that one. In the Salvation Army case, Williams let Fina do what he does – go after the Black people improperly. Fina gave immunity to all the white guys.
Your point is well taken on PPA’s coverage. The Penn State case is huge news. Kind of curious that they are not reporting on the findings of the Superior Court.
Shut Up HaHaHa, you feckless criminal loser who was abused by Fina so badly your life revolves around being on this site and others. Always bemoaning how horrible he is. It’s clear Fina clearly put you in jail. And given by your limited vocabulary you made it easy for him. Go back to stabbing your fina voodoo doll.
Try to stay on topic, SpongeRetard. Don’t make me have sklaroff e-mail Sy.
Maybe you can become an editor of http://truthaboutkathleenkane.com
Actually it’s more than that it talks about other people as well. And who made you the comment police. I will post as much Kane rhetoric here as I want. You never shut up about Williams or Fina on Kane articles. I know your life revolves around whining about Fina but the irony is too rich… you asking for others to stay on topic.
SpongeLoser — this article is about Seth Williams (and his decision to protect Frank Fina). Scroll up and see for yourself. Take your shill ant-Kane nonsense someplace else. No one is buying it anymore.
How Cute Pat and HaHaHa talking to each other. Again why would someone lie, on tape, when they don’t know they are being recorded. I am starting to think Kane could walk up to a baby seal, shoot it in the head and you morons would blame Fina and Seth Williams. It’s such a shame you hold such disdain for the person who put you in jail.
Ha3 – Don’t fall for it. That’s the same troll who was threatening David’s business. He has an anti-Kane agenda. It’s probably Frank Fina’s wife.
Sorry, SpongeRetard — Some hack’s voice on a phone saying what Kane wants to do is no different than that hack on the witness stand saying what Kane wants to do. It’s nonsense. And it is not even close to being admissible against Kane.
It ain’t Kane on the tape; it’s an ape on the tape. No one cares what the ape’s mouth spews
Plus – that scum-bag was probably reading from a script anyway.
Please do not use my name in connection with that POS Seth Williams.
He is the lowest of the low. A corrupt politician in prosecutor’s clothes.
Kudos to Mr. Snyder for calling out that pig, Seth Williams. The guy would not law what is “right” if it slapped him in his smug face.
And a big down arrow for PoliticsPA in general. There is still no report on the Superior Court case throwing out most of the charges in the Penn State case. The Court held that Frank Fina’s conduct was “HIGHLY IMPROPER.”
Someone needs to tell Seth Williams that he employs not only a sexist and racist – but an unethical prosecutor as well.
I will vote for anyone but Seth Williams in the next DA election.
and Pat coming from someone who never misses a chance to cry about Fina or Williams on seemingly every post here shut it hell down. I don’t need your jibber jabber. You of all people are not the on topic commenter police.
Observer you must be crazy, He would have no way to know he was being recorded and even if he did how in the world would he know he needed to prepare a just in case recording. Also the recording is going to make it in. I know more than you think I do. I know more about the law than you think I do. I am not saying Kane’s team won’t fight like hell to keep it out, but it’s pretty damning piece of evidence. Kane is going to plead out if I were a betting man.
Sorry boys. But this article does not even mention Kane. Take your argument elsewhere.
LOL … Lindy’s last quote on Kane: “She is becoming absolutely Nixonian”
Some hack’s voice on a phone saying what Kane wants to do is no different than that hack on the stand saying what Kane wants to do. It’s nonsense.
BTW – Lindy has no idea whether the hack knew he was being recorded. You can ask him.
Of course I might, Sponge. But I don’t think I am.
According to when the recording was made, it may play right into Kane’s lawyer’s hands. Don’t want to disclose too much, though!!
Bottom line- the voice of come one else cannot be used against Kane. It’s pretty basic stuff. Doubt you would understand.
Sorry Observer but you be wrong…….
Such a recording offers potentially corroborating evidence to bolster prosecutors’ claims that Kane lied under oath by denying a role in the leak. And it is audio evidence that stands apart from what Morrow told an investigator about a similar phone conversation described in the county’s affidavit of probable cause.
One legal expert called the recording a “slam dunk” for prosecutors.
Audio or video evidence greatly aids prosecution, said Jeffrey Lindy, a Philadelphia defense lawyer and former federal prosecutor who has defended high-profile clients such as Monsignor William Lynn, accused of covering up child sex abuse in the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Morrow didn’t know he was being recorded in that 2014 telephone conversation. So Lindy said it will be hard to convince jurors that he wasn’t telling the truth.
The recording previously has not been publicly disclosed or mentioned in public court documents in the Kane case. Kane’s trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 8.
The FBI has turned over 10 recordings of Morrow; the nine others were routine political conversations, the source said.
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/investigations/mc-pa-kathleen-kane-fbi-wiretap-20160225-story.html
Josh Morrow is a corrupt snake. He wasn’t talking to Kane on those recordings. And they won’t be admissible in Court against Kane. When Morrow testifies for the Government, he will be skewered by Kane’s attorneys. That’s because he ia a liar. He already told two vastly different stories. And don’t forget that the ape probably knew he was being recorded. There is a theory out there that Kane’s defense will be that she was set-up (by a group of people that enlisted Morrow). A snake talking into a microphone means nothing.
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/85d68be784fe44538233940d1cc93979/some-charges-against-penn-state-ex-administrators-thrown
I wonder if anyone thinks this case will be dropped now 🙂
Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s political consultant was caught on an FBI wiretap talking about how she wanted the consultant’s help in passing along documents that later became the subject of a grand jury leak probe, The Morning Call has learned.
The FBI recorded the conversation between Kane’s consultant, Josh Morrow, and an unidentified person during its 2014 extortion investigation of state Treasurer Rob McCord, a source told the newspaper.
The FBI later provided the recording to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, which has charged Kane with lying about her role in passing along the grand jury documents that were discussed in the call, the source said. The grand jury documents involved were supposed to be kept private. Instead, prosecutors say, they were used by Kane to discredit a rival. County prosecutors gave the recording to Kane’s legal defense team Feb. 5 in preparation for her trial this summer, the source said.
Ten days later, Kane announced that for her children’s sake, she would not seek re-election.
HaHaHa: Layoff Bud Dwyer. He was a good man, wrongly accused. Nothing like that creep Seth Williams.
seth williams only protects victims of violent crime if the attacker did not give seth williams money.
Seth Williams should resign too. Maybe he can cut a deal with the G-Men who are coming for him.
It does stink. Not only did he “hang onto” and protect Fina, but he forced out the career prosecutor who called for the Office to fire Fina.
And now he has taken it even further. He has hired Bob Levan’t wife to a newly created position (“Chief of Staff” and “General Counsel” and, basically, put her in charge. She has just about no prosecutorial experience and zero general counsel experience.
Bob Levant is Frank Fina’s lawyer. Bob Levant is also Tyron Ali’s lawyer.
Fina and Levant negotiated an 11th hour deal (executed right before Kane took Office) wherein Ali got a FREE PASS and got to keep the $400,000.00 in taxpayer $$$ that Ali stole.
Fina and Levant are now suing the AG’s Office for more taxpayer money.
So – is Seth Williams going to tell us it is a coincidence that the person he brought in off the street (she was never an ADA in Philadelphia) just so happens to be married to Bob Levant? Seems like too big a coincidence.
Williams is worse than Ray Guy. Williams is the Bud Dwyer of the D.A.’s Office (as corrupt as the day is long).
Fina lying to Judge Feudale and the Superior Court finding this and his ethical violation and prosecutorial misconduct before the PSU Grand Jury may get him a final trip to the disciplinary board. Seth’s conduct is really peculiar and it stinks of some backroom deal with his hanging on to these guys.