http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1402227
Pa. Lawmaker Guilty of Conflict of Interest
Pennsylvania Legislator Found Guilty of Conflict of Interest and Could
Be Removed From Office
By SEAN D. HAMILL Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH - A western Pennsylvania lawmaker has been convicted of
making his legislative staff do political campaign work on state time.
The felony conviction of conflict of interest means state Rep. Jeff
Habay, 39, a six-term Republican from Allegheny County, will lose his
state pension and could be removed from office by the Legislature.
He also could face punishment ranging from probation to 15 months in
prison, prosecutors said. Sentencing was set for Jan. 30.
Habay said he plans to appeal Monday's conviction and was not sure if
he would resign. The jury found him not guilty of theft of services.
After the verdict, Habay said the case was the result of a political
witch hunt.
Senior Deputy Attorney General Anthony Krastek dismissed that
argument, saying: "The jury spoke more eloquently than Mr. Habay. ...
with one word 'guilty.'"
Habay's attorney, John Elash, has acknowledged that some minor
campaign work may have been done at Habay's district office, but said
it was an oversight.
Habay faces a second trial next year on 21 counts that allege he
concocted a story about receiving a suspicious white powder in the
mail and directed his staff to investigate his adversaries on state
time.
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press.
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Contempt of Congress meter reading-offscale.
Hello, theocracy with a fundamentalist US Supreme
Court who will ensure church and state are joined
at the hip like clergy and altar boys.
America 1776-Jan 2001 RIP
"As democracy is perfected, the office of president
represents, more and more closely, the inner soul
of the people. On some great and glorious day the
plain folks of the land will reach their heart's
desire at last and the White House will be adorned
by a downright moron." --- H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
Religion is the original war crime.
-Michelle Malkin (Feb 26, 2005)
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