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Thursday, May 02, 1996 Page:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Joseph McDade’s trial on bribery and racketeering
charges has been set for June 10 in Philadelphia.
The trial has been delayed several times because of appeals filed by the
17-term Scranton Republican. The latest appeal was rejected last month by a
three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
McDade’s attorneys also have asked U.S. District Court Judge Robert S.
Gawthrop III to transfer the trial to Scranton or Washington. Prosecutors
chose Philadelphia “to tap into the cynicism” of area residents, especially in
matters related to elected officials from other levels, defense attorneys said
in a memorandum filed this week.
McDade, 64, is accused of accepting about $100,000 in campaign
contributions, vacations and other gifts from defense contractors in return
for helping them get more than $50 million in contracts.
McDade has denied any wrongdoing.
In the latest appeal, McDade contended that the charges violate the
Constitution’s rule-making clause by requiring prosecutors to interpret House
rules. The appeals court rejected McDade’s appeal less than a week after the
court heard oral arguments.
At that hearing, the judges suggested that McDade’s lawyers appeared to be
trying to drag out the case, which began with a May 1992 indictment and has
already included a round of appeals that went to the Supreme Court.
McDade was denied the opportunity to head the House Appropriations
Committee pending resolution of the criminal charges. Last week, he faced his
first Republican primary opponent in 14 years and narrowly defeated a
political novice with 53 percent of the vote.
Environmental attorney Joe Cullen will be his Democratic opponent in the
Nov. 5 general election.