Vince Fumo, speaking after the verdict was announced. “I’m heartbroken and very disappointed and that’s it guys.”

Laurie Magid, U.S. Attorney, issued this statement. Public officials must remember the arrogant rationalizations that juries in this case and others have emphatically rejected. “I am worth it” is not a defense, is not an excuse, is not a basis, for spending at least ninety thousand dollars of charity money on tools and appliances, including almost seven thousand dollars just on high-end vacuum cleaners for your four homes. “Everyone is doing this” is not a defense, is not an excuse, is not a basis, for taking the Seaport Museum’s luxury yacht for a cruise without paying for it, or giving no-work contracts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to your friends.

James Kenney, a Philadelphia City Councilman and a friend of Fumo, was said to have expressed sadness for Fumo and his family but not surprise at the verdict. Telling Clout that juries seem more likely to convict these days.

Michael Nutter, Philadelphia mayor, was stunned by the verdict. Speaking to the Daily News, the mayor also said, “But I think today’s jury verdict is further evidence that no matter how much good you do in public life, no matter what your good intentions may be, none of us, none of us are above the law.”

Frank DiCicco, a Philadelphia city councilman and friend of Fumo, refused to comment according to KYW.

Anna Verna, city council president, told Heard in the Hall that people don’t realize how hard Fumo worked in the legislature to bring money into Philadelphia. “At a time like this, it’s sad that people don’t talk about the good that he’s done – they’re just talking about what the people on the jury found him guilty of.”

Ken Snyder, a frequent spokesman for Fumo including his non-profit Citizens Alliance for Better Neighborhoods, told It’s Our City that he had no comment at this time, and needed time to think about it.

Gloria Guard who is president of the People’s Emergency Center (PEC), a social service agency and community development corporation based in West Philadelphia had a representative call us back saying she had “no comment.”

Mark Segal, publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News and supporter of Fumo, emailed us back with this. “While the Jury has spoken on these charges it does not diminish the
work that Vince Fumo did for this city and state.  It’s a sad day for more then Vince Fumo.”

Related links:

Doron Taussig describes the scene in the courtroom as the verdict was read

Radio Times interview from 2004 with Vince Fumo which was played to the jury by the prosecution.