The FBI, stop-and-frisk, and a historic upset. See who made this week’s list!
John Estey. It’s never good news when you get dangled up with the FBI. Over the weekend, we learned that Governor Rendell’s former Chief of Staff is going to plead guilty to wire fraud charges. Eventually, Estey’s own misconduct got him involved in an undercover sting operation to find other instances of political corruption. In fact, it appears there may be a connection between Estey and former State Treasurer Rob McCord’s similar situation. This whole episode continues to gather steam and could be quite the spectacle once it finally boils over.
Donald Trump. Contrary to popular belief, America is no stranger to surprise, outsider presidential nominees: William Jennings Bryan, Wendell Willkie, Barry Goldwater, George McGovern. Trump, however, very well may take the cake. Very few people predicted that he could actually win the GOP nomination but this week the party rallied around him after his win in Indiana. Remember, though, that all those names above failed to ultimately win the presidency. At this moment CNN, the Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball all have Pennsylvania (as well as the entire Electoral College map) leaning toward Hillary Clinton. One miracle is hard enough to pull off, but to win the ultimate prize “The Donald” will somehow have to perform another.
Jim Kenney. The Philadelphia Mayor wanted to heal the city’s internal divisions after his 2015 victory. That goal is proving much more difficult than he initially thought. Controversy over whether the city’s police force has actually moved away from “stop-and-frisk” policies, as Kenney promised they would, ignited a raucous crowd at a forum the Mayor attended. Kenney’s dour body language angered protestors and epitomized the whole sad situation. As the Bard wrote, “uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”
John Sabatina. Not all elections end on Election Night. Such was the case in the SD-5 Democratic primary between incumbent State Senator John Sabatina and State Rep. Kevin Boyle. This week, though, Boyle finally conceded after losing by just 602 votes. Given the heavily Democratic nature of the 5th district, Sabatina should be secure in that seat for as long as he wants.
Seth Williams. The Philadelphia District Attorney just can’t escape his connection with controversial prosecutor and Kathleen Kane archenemy Frank Fina. On Wednesday, Philly Councilwoman Cindy Bass and Helen Gym vigorously condemned Williams’ decision to retain Fina and two other prosecutors on his staff who were involved in the lewd email chains during their time in the AG’s office. Williams’ decision to hitch his wagon to these men get more baffling by the day.
The tweet of the week goes to Councilwoman Bass and concerns Seth Williams.
I'm not looking for love, but answers! https://t.co/kAfdgETHpJ
— Cindy Bass (@cindybassphilly) May 4, 2016
Loading ...
15 Responses
After I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new feedback are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get 4 emails with the identical comment. Is there any means you’ll be able to take away me from that service? Thanks!
http://www.eurafrica.be/index.php/blogs/253/793/sellling-your-house-one-possibility
No. Not yet, Aaron.
At this point, Fina and Costanzo seem content to continue to destroy their boss’ career and alienate more people at the Philadelphia DA’s Office. As it stands – they are the most hated people in the building. Their supporters are dwindling. And the people that work wit h them have, basically, started a mutiny.
Seth Williams hiring Bob Levant’s wife certainly didn’t help. It actually was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Everyone that works there knows that Levant represents Fina in his $$$-driven lawsuit against the State. Everybody is talking about how Levant represented Williams when the Feds came after him. And everyone knows that she is totally unqualified for the job Seth handed her.
Something is ROTTEN at the DA’s Office.
Has Fina resigned yet? https://www.politicspa.com/councilwomen-grill-williams-over-fina/75222/
I Hope they take down every elected Person in The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Oh Man this is too funny. Shapiro and Evans won their primaries by touting themselves as the ethical alternatives and now we find out they are both involved in the Estey FBI probe and took $$. Only in Pa. This is going to be a really fun 6 months leading up the general election. I have to wonder if the Inquirer knew what was coming since it endorsed both Evans and Shapiro. Nothing increases readership like a nice political scandal.
No. Not yet. I just hope they don’t indict my client – Frank Fina. And I hope they don’t indict my wife – Kathy Martin.
I am really hoping the Feds didn’t notice that Seth Williams hired my client Fina as an Assistant Districr Attorney and that Seth hired my wife, Kathy Martin, as his Chief of Staff.
I don’t want it to look like Seth is involved with helping me out with my money-seeking lawsuit against AG Kane. And I don’t want it to look like Seth hired my wife to a six-figure job she has no qualifications for.
I mean — so what if it would hurt my case if Fina got fired for being a racist!! Shhhhhhhh …. That is just a huge coincidence.
We really need to keep it quiet that my wife was involved in demoting that Deputy that suggested to Seth that my client be fired.
If my client, Frank Fina, fired, my case isn’t worth squat. And then me and my wife don’t make as much money.
Wait — am I going to jail too???
Has Williams been indicted yet?
Karen,
That should be re-posted until Seth Williams starts answering some questions. On this issue of a Fina & The Corbett Pervs, he is ignoring City Counsel, NOW, the NAACP, his mentor (Hardy Williams). He ignored the advice of his 1st Asdistant (McCann) and demoted a top Deputy (Malone) for giving him similar advice.
The motive seems dirty. He seems like a desperate politician looking out only for himself and ignoring the interests of his Office, the victims, and the citizens of Philadelphia.
And it’s not just the hate-filled e-mails. The Superior Court just found that Fina’s conduct in the Penn State case was “highly improper.” Why is Seth Williams ignoring that too? Why are no reporters asking him?
Now he is pretending that “real people” don’t care that he has racists and woman-haters working for him as prosecutors. I’m a real person. I care. Over 1,500 real people signed the NOW petition demanding that he fire Fina.
Something is ROTTEN at the DAs Office. It starts with the guy that got his ass kicked last weekend. The guy who is covering up for the person who defaced City property in front of his house. The guy who’s Twitter feed once included photos from Big Booty Latinas. The guy who spent campaign funds on membership dues at The Union League and The Sporting Club at The Bellvue.
And here’s another big problem for Seth Williams:
http://articles.philly.com/2016-04-02/news/71980200_1_tires-fleet-management-12-days
Word is that the criminal Seth Williams is protecting is a jilted lover. But yet he had taxpayers pay for the repairs to the car. Hope the Feds are watching.
Some smart reporter may want to snoop around on what Unit “investigated” this for the DA’s Office. Dollars to doughnuts it comes back to Fina, Costanzo, or Bob Levant’s wife.
Trump loves women …look at his wife you fmorons…..
Mr. Snyder — If you are serious when you type that Williams’ hitch to Frank Fina is baffling, then you need to read HAHA’s comment from the other article. He argues that Fina and Williams are in bed together. And that Fina has hooked Seth Williams up with Corbett’s money guys in Harrisburg to resuscitate Williams’ career.
How else can the hiring of the new 2nd-in-command Kathy Martin be explained?
Martin has a shady background (representing rapists, drug dealers and murderers). She was a part time prosecutor for a cup of coffee in rural PA somewhere. And then – all of a sudden – she is 2nd in Command in a big city D.A.’s Office (Philadelphia)!!!
Weird huh?
Kathy Martin’s title is “Chief of Staff” and “General Counsel.” She has ZERO general counsel experience and just about no prosecutorial experience. Did she interview with the Hiring Committee? Did she get vetted by HR folks? How did she walk off the street into a six-figure salary with the City?
Hmmmmmm …… Let’s see …..
When Kathleen Kane won the AG race, but before she took office, then Deputy AG Frank Fina finalized his “unjust” plea deal with Tyron Ali – the con-man cooperator in the sting case. Bruce Beemer, the 1st Asst at the OAG who testified AGAINST Kane, called Fina’s plea deal “unjust.” Frank Fina dropped all of the over 2,000 criminal charges that were pending against Tyron Ali. Fina also let Ali keep the $430K he stole from a non-profit set up to help children. That was taxpayer $$$. Wh’d Fina let him keep it?
Con-man Tyron Ali is represented by Bob Levant. Fina negotiated that sweet deal, in the 11th hour (right before Kane was set to take over) with attorney Bob Levant.
And now Fina is suing the AG’s Office for more taxpayer money. And guess who one of his attorneys is? Yep — Bob Levant.
Rumor has it that Bob Levant has also helped Seth Williams with the FBI’s criminal investigation into Williams.
A ways back, Seth Williams hired Frank Fina. Whether he knew of Fina’s “e-mail issues” when he hired Fina we may never know. But Williams certainly knows now. And the Superior Court just called Fina’s conduct in the Penn State case “highly improper.” Williams certainly knows that too.
“Chief of Staff/General Counsel” is a high paying job. Six figures. Seth Williams hired Kathy Martin off the street into that job. She has zero general counsel experience and hardly any prosecutorial experience.
But – Kathy Martin is Bob Levant’s wife!!
Now – Seth Williams’ “Chief of Staff” is in the Press, speaking on behalf of the Philadelphia DA’s Office, defending and praising her husband’s racist client – Frank Fina.
Huge coincidence, huh?? I think not. It’s no wonder that Williams refuses to fire Fina. They are in bed together. Levant and Martin are on that stinky mattress too.
Is it OK that Kathy Martin, a high-paid City employee, has a financial interest in smearing the AG and propping up her husband’s racist client – Frank Fina?
Is it OK that Seth Williams has a financial interest in keeping Fina around? Just look at who is running Seth Williams’ PAC. His name is Mike Barley. And he is a Corbett guy – just like Frank Fina. Google “On the Rocks – Seth Williams” and read the article. You will see Seth Williams’ motive here — political survival. He has no friends and no money. Fina & The Corbett Pervs are his only hope!!
gulagPittsburgh – I can tell you that he will never get a vote from a female anywhere. In Philadelphia. Or anywhere else. He better hope Trump wins and suspends women’s suffrage.
When AG Kane won the AG Election, but before she took office, Frank Fina finalized his “unjust” plea deal with Tyron Ali. Bruce Beemer called it “unjust.” Fina dropped all of the over 2,000 criminal charges that were pending against Ali. Frank Fina also let Ali keep the $430K he stole from a non-profit set up to help children. That was taxpayer $$$.
Con-man Ali’s lawyer was/is Bob Levant. Fina negotiated that sweet deal, in the 11th hour (right before Kane was set to take over) with Levant.
And now Frank Fina is suing the AG’s Office for more taxpayer $$$. And guess who one of his lawyers is? Yep — Bob Levant.
Rumor has it that Bob Levant has also helped Seth Williams with the FBI’s criminal investigation into Williams.
A ways back, Seth Williams hired Frank Fina. Whether he knew of Fina’s “issues” when he hired him we may never know. But Williams certainly knows now. The Superior Court just called Fina’s conduct in the Penn State case “highly improper.” Williams certainly knows that too.
“Chief of Staff/General Counsel” is a high paying job. Seth Williams recently hired Kathy Martin off the street into that job. She has zero general counsel experience and hardly any prosecutorial experience.
But – she is Bob Levant’s wife!! Crazy, huh?
Now – we have Seth Williams’ “Chief of Staff” is in the Press, speaking on behalf of the Philadelphia DA’s Office, defending and praising her husband’s racist client – Frank Fina.
Huge coincidence, huh?? I think not. It’s no wonder that Williams refuses to fire Fina. They are in bed together. Levant and Martin are on that stinky mattress too.
Is it OK that Kathy Martin, a high-paid City employee, has a financial interest in smearing the AG and propping up her husband’s client, Frank Fina?
Is it OK that Williams is now demoting hard-working career prosecutors who speak out to Seth Williams about Fina and not wanting to drag the DA’s Office down?
And — is it OK that Seth is now a Republican??http://articles.philly.com/2016-03-15/news/71513917_1_d-a-williams-new-pac-campaign
Seth Williams deliberately protects perverts, while Cynthia Baldwin does it by incompetence and unethical misconduct at the PSU 3 grand jury. Neither should still be in office.
Seth Williams has no moral basis left to be a Democrat. The sooner he declares openly to be GOP the better. He will never again win an election in Philly.