PA State Rep John Perzel (right) with the crime fighting dog (left)

(updated: Grand Jury report links below)

Former state House Speaker John Perzel is among 10 people connected to the House Republican caucus who are being charged in a new phase of a legislative corruption probe.

Attorney General Tom Corbett says Perzel, a Philadelphia Republican, his former chief of staff Brian Preski and former House GOP counsel Brett Feese are among those charged with misuse of public resources and employees for campaign purposes.

Corbett: “Perzel developed a scheme, or a cover story, that the databases and programs were for constituent services, and would be available to all House Republican members and their staff. In reality, Perzel was able to use the data and software programs for his own campaigns, and for the campaign arm of the caucus, the House Republican campaign committee.”

Perzel served as House Speaker from April 2003 until Nov. 2006. He was first elected to the Assembly in 1978 and continues in that position representing District 172 in Northeast Philadelphia.

Corbett announced the latest charges in the ongoing grand jury investigation at a Thursday news conference at his Harrisburg office.

Grand Jury report detailing the charges.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Others charged:

Former Republican State Rep. Brett Feese

Brian Preski, Perzel’s former chief of staff

Paul Towhey, Perzel’s current chief of staff Paul Towhey

Samual Stokes, Perzel’s brother-in-law

John Zimmerman, Perzel legislative aide

Don McClintock, Perzel his campaign aide

Jill Seaman, Feese legislative aide

Elmer Bowman, Feese legislative aide

Eric Ruth, former GOP information technology deputy director

So, What do you think?

Is Perzel the kind of guy who would do something like this?

Is politics playing a role in the investigation?

If you were Perzel, How would you handle this?