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Corruption trial begins for Pennsylvania legislator

THIS STORY APPEARED IN

January 24, 2012

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A prosecutor yesterday described a once-powerful longtime Democratic lawmaker as a “common thief with uncommon access’’ to taxpayers’ money, as he became the first sitting Pennsylvania legislator to go to trial as part of a public corruption inquiry that started five years ago.

Senior Deputy Attorney General Ken Brown told jurors the evidence will show that state Representative Bill DeWeese illegally used legislative employees for political campaigning and fund-raising.

“We’re talking about public monies, monies paid by taxpayers, that were taken by this defendant and used for his own campaign work and for his own personal use,’’ Brown said an opening statement.

Defense lawyer William Costopoulos portrayed DeWeese as a hard-working legislator who misplaced his trust in subordinates in the House Democratic caucus, some of whom are expected to testify against him.

Costopoulos painted DeWeese as a man whose values were shaped by his working-class family, his service as a Marine Corps officer, and the constituents in his district in Pennsylvania’s southwestern corner who have elected him 18 times. DeWeese initially won his House seat in a 1976 special election.

DeWeese, 61, a former House speaker and the Democratic floor leader during the 2001-2007 period covered by the investigation, “has earned a good reputation for truthfulness, integrity’’ and respect for the law, Costopoulos said.

But the lawyer said DeWeese is “not a hands-on guy’’ and delegated most responsibilities for overseeing the hundreds of staffers in the Democratic caucus to others.

Dauphin County Judge Todd Hoover opened the trial by banning coverage by reporters tweeting from the courtroom. He cited a proposed rule that the state Supreme Court is considering.