Democratic State Representative Marc Gergely, who endorsed Katie McGinty, was charged yesterday with two felony counts of being part of a corrupt organization (in addition to several other charges). This is just a few months after McGinty touted his endorsement.
McGinty seems to have quietly deleted Gergely’s endorsement from her website. As of today, he is no longer listed.
In addition to Gergely, Allegheny County Attorney Louis Caputo, who is involved in the same scandal as Gergely, is a longtime McGinty supporter. Caputo has donated $3,000 to McGinty’s efforts, including both her failed 2014 gubernatorial bid and her current U.S. Senate campaign.
In an effort to distract from this news – McGinty announced a “Women for Katie” coalition today. But one name in particular should look very familiar…Blondell Reynolds Brown.
Brown, who endorsed McGinty in December, was fined $48,834 for campaign finance violations while her campaign manager was sentenced to a year in federal prison. Brown was found to have put campaign contributions into her personal bank account.
What does this say about the company McGinty keeps, in addition to her own record of ethics problems and revolving door connections?
BACKGROUND:
- As Of March 2, 2016, Gergely Is No Longer Listed As An Endorser On McGinty’s Website. (Katie McGinty For Senate, Accessed 3/2/16)
- On November 5, 2015, Louis Caputo Contributed $500 To McGinty’s Senate Campaign. (Federal Election Commission, Accessed 3/1/16)
- On March 11, 2014, Louis Caputo Contributed $2,500 To McGinty’s Gubernatorial Campaign. (Pennsylvania Department Of State, Accessed 3/1/16)
- In 2013, The Philadelphia Board Of Ethics Exposed Brown For Using Campaign Funds For Her Own Personal Finances. “The Philadelphia Board of Ethics recently exposed McDaniel, along with Councilwoman Brown for using the campaign funds for their own personal finances.” (Luann Cahn and Lauren DiSanto, “Former Philly Campaign Manager Admits To Stealing $100K,” NBC10, 2/14/13)
- The Ethics Board Fined Brown $48,834 For Making Material Misstatements And Omissions In Her Campaign Finance Reports, Accepting Excess Contributions, Failing To Properly Deposit Contributions, Accepting Prohibited Gifts And Failing To Disclose Transactions. “City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown and her campaign have been slapped with a $48,834 fine for a series of ethics violations. The Ethics Board announced today that Reynolds Brown made material misstatements and omissions in her campaign finance reports, accepted excess contributions, failed to properly deposit contributions, accepted prohibited gifts and failed to disclose transactions on 2010 and 2011 financial interest statements.” (Jan Ransom, “Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown To Pay $40,000-Plus For Ethics Violations,” Philadelphia Daily News, 1/28/13)
- Brown Put Campaign Contributions Into Her Personal Bank Account. “Brown reported herself to the Philadelphia Board of Ethics in March 2012 after McDaniel used a bogus expense to disguise the repayment of a $3,300 personal loan from her political action committee from Chaka ‘Chip’ Fattah Jr. Brown, in a settlement with the Board of Ethics, admitted to dozens of problems with her campaign finance reports, including putting contributions into her personal bank account.” (Chris Brennan, “Blondell Reynolds Brown’s Campaign Treasurer Sentenced To One Year In Federal Prison,” Philadelphia Daily News, 5/14/13)
- Brown’s Former Campaign Manager And Treasurer Was Sentenced To A Year In Federal Prison For Stealing More Than $100,000 From Her PAC. “John McDaniel, former campaign manager for City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, was sentenced this afternoon to one year and a day in federal prison for stealing more than $100,000 from her political action committee.” (Chris Brennan, “Blondell Reynolds Brown’s Campaign Treasurer Sentenced To One Year In Federal Prison,” Philadelphia Daily News, 5/14/13)