Did Corbett also “slow-walk” the Turnpike investigation?

By Dick Miller

WE CONNECT DOTS: In 2006 — midway through his first term as state Attorney General — Tom Corbett formed a public corruption unit. Activities there propelled him to a first term as Governor in 2010. Extended control through handpicked successor Linda Kelly until this past January boost chances for re-election in 2014.

Corbett’s campaign benefited from publicity associated with the “Bonusgate” scandal late in the last decade. Carefully orchestrated prosecutions against state representatives, press conferences and “perp” walks of Democrat lawmakers wearing handcuffs helped erase a million voter registration deficit.

Harrisburg observers thought the ax would fall on state Senators for using their staffs for campaign purposes.
The Feds nailed Democrat senators Bob Mellow and Vince Fumo with evidence corruption existed in that legislative body. Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala sent GOP State Sen. Jane Orie to prison for using taxpayer-paid employees for campaign tasks.

Corbett remained unconcerned about corrupt practices in the GOP-controlled Senate.

Corbett began the investigation of former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky in 2009. He did not take the convicted child molester off the streets until 2011.

Critics contend Corbett did not want the Sandusky investigation to surface before the 2010 gubernatorial election for two reasons. Sandusky was once considered to be successor to head coach Joe Paterno. PSU nation members became irate when they learned Corbett was poking around Paterno’s empire.

Second, large campaign donations poured in from these same people. By one count, directors of a charity for wayward boys, founded and run by Sandusky, donated over $600,000 to Corbett in 2010.

Some experts in child molestation crimes believe the suspect should be taken off the streets as soon as possible. Corbett argued time must be provided for other boys and parents to come forward. He denied “slow-walking” the Sandusky investigation to benefit his political campaign.

Earlier this month new Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced indictments of eight men for corrupt practices in the business of the PA Turnpike. These prosecutions are also the work of Corbett’s public corruption unit. The last two years this staff served at the direction of Linda Kelly, Corbett’s handpicked successor as AG.

Did Corbett and Kelly also slow-walk the Turnpike probe to improve his chances for re-election in 2014? Certain factors contribute to this theory.

Political contributions and doing business with the Turnpike have been synonymous since the road opened in 1940. This is why the non-bid business has always been split between the two political parties.

The 33rd Statewide Investigating Grand Jury met for a week a month for the last five years. Indictments against Sandusky and three PSU administrators were an early product. The Turnpike Eight are its latest. Throughout, they have been spoon-fed targets, witnesses and documents. Prosecutors and staff were all hired by one of the last six elected and appointed Republican state attorneys-general.

The Turnpike indictments were directed only against practices that occurred while Democrats were in control. Now the forthcoming court actions will crimp that party’s fund raising in next year’s governor election.

The 85-page grand jury presentment barely recognizes periods when Republicans controlled the Turnpike, 26 of the last 50 years. For example, contributors seeking Turnpike business made donations to former Democrat Gov. Ed Rendell and 2010 Democrat candidate Dan Onorato, according to the presentment.

The grand jury made no mention of corrupt practices by vendors contributing to Corbett. By agreement, forty per cent of the non-bid work was given to Republican-approved vendors while Democrats controlled the Turnpike.
With Democrats in control for the years 2003 through 2010, the statutes of limitations are expiring against any illegal GOP practices. Most laws against public corruption require prosecution within five years of occurrence.

A Judge may approve an application for an extension of statutes up to an additional eight years. Common Pleas courts in Central PA and the state appellate courts are controlled by Republicans.

In politics, timing is everything.