Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 31 July 2017

Bob Brady runs Philadelphia Democrats amid run of corruption

By MARYCLAIRE DALE small have dogged Phila- ing the slate of candidates,
Associated Press delphia Democrats dur- lawyer James Eisenhower
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — ing Brady’s tenure as party said. “If he could say who
Union carpenter Bob Brady boss. could run, they’d say he’s
has spent 30 years running Eleven-term congressman an old-fashioned party
Philadelphia’s Democratic Chaka Fattah and his son boss. With a modern party
machine, and 20 years are both in federal prison boss, ... candidates run and
in Congress, watching a for improperly enriching win independent of the
string of local party leaders themselves with public or party chair. Then they say
go to prison. private funds. Two-term Dis- he’s not exercising enough
A Justice Department trict Attorney Seth Williams oversight,” Eisenhower said.
memo in a brewing crimi- awaits sentencing for liv- He denies that Brady tried
nal case hints at the way ing beyond his means with to obstruct the FBI probe of
he wields power. help from friends seeking the money Brady’s cam-
Brady’s camp gave a city favors. paign gave Judge Jimmie
judge who challenged him Rep. Bob Brady, D-Penn., speaks in Philadelphia. Brady has Former statehouse pow- Moore in 2012, noting that
in the 2012 primary $90,000 spent 30 years running Philadelphia’s Democratic machine, and erbroker Vincent Fumo candidates routinely swal-
to quit the race, accord- 20 years in Congress, watching a string of local party leaders served more than four years low up the campaign debt
ing to the plea memo, un- go to prison. Now the FBI has its spotlight on him over $90,000 in in prison for using state sen- of vanquished foes for the
sealed Wednesday after payments to a Democratic challenger who quit the 2012 prima- ate funds or — in his words sake of party unity.
ry race. Brady’s lawyer insists the congressman has done noth-
the judge’s campaign aide ing wrong and says Brady paid the rival for his political polling. — “OPM,” or “other peo- “Judge Moore decided to
pleaded guilty to breaking (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) ple’s money,” to renovate get out of the race, based
campaign finance laws. his mansion, commander on his own calculation that
And Brady himself tried prosecutors, who said they pressure the aide not to co- museum yachts and to spy he couldn’t win. He did
to “influence” a witness filed the case under seal for operate. on his ex-wife. By one press ask the congressman if he
in the case, according to fear he would “corrupt(ly)” Corruption cases large and account, more than 30 Phil- could relieve some of his
adelphia Democrats have campaign debt,” Eisen-
been investigated since hower said. “Congressman
2000 — with barely a peep Brady has done nothing
from the boss. wrong here.”
Brady’s lawyer bristles at Brady had nearly a half-mil-
talk his client should be lion war chest, and Moore
tarred by the lapses. Brady only a few thousand, when
is “damned if he does and Moore met with Brady in
damned if he doesn’t” February 2012 and agreed
when it comes to manag- to step aside. q
Congressman to fulfill assault

sentence with nonprofit firm

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — says the congressman will
Montana U.S. Rep. Greg work with ROC Wheels, a
Gianforte will work off his Bozeman nonprofit organi-
sentence for assaulting a zation.
reporter by volunteering for Ette tells the Bozeman Daily
an organization that builds Chronicle that Gianforte is
custom wheelchairs for working with ROC Wheels
children. on when and how his hours
The Republican was or- will be completed. He has
dered to perform 40 hours until Nov. 28.
of community service as Gianforte also must com-
part of his sentence for at- plete 20 hours of anger-
tacking Guardian reporter management counseling
Ben Jacobs the day before after he pleaded guilty to
Gianforte was elected in misdemeanor assault in
the May 25 special con- June.
gressional election. He told the court he will
Gallatin County Court Ser- be seeing a Bozeman
vices director Steve Ette therapist.q