News

August 18, 2008

State House GOP staffers subpoenaed

The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH — The state attorney general has subpoenaed several state House Republican staff members as part of an investigation into whether state money was used to pay for political campaign work, according to a caucus spokesman.

House Republican spokesman Steve Miskin told The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he did not know how many staffers had received subpoenas or where they worked.

Last month, 12 people connected to the House Democratic caucus, including a former Democratic whip and one sitting legislator, were charged in connection with the probe. A grand jury that reviewed the evidence accused the defendants of illegally diverting millions in taxpayer dollars to underwrite political campaigns and personal perks.

Those charged include former Whip Mike Veon, current Rep. Sean Ramaley, the former chief of staff to Majority Leader Bill DeWeese and other high-ranking caucus employees. All the charged employees are either suspended without pay or were forced out in November.

Attorney General Tom Corbett, a Republican, has said he anticipates more arrests.

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