Former campaign manager charged by feds in Philadelphia

John McDaniel, the former campaign manager for Philadelphia Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown is accused of stealing about $100,000 from the councilwoman’s campaign account. McDaniel has already lost his job as an assistant managing director at Philadelphia International Airport. 

“Mr. McDaniel was the treasurer of the councilperson’s campaign account, the information charges that he withdrew funds through ATM withdrawals and bank account withdrawals and also at times wrote checks to himself and progressive agenda a political action committee he controlled and got funds in that respect,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Gray.

Gray says McDaniel was able to cover up the withdrawals.

“Since he was the treasurer of the committee he concealed the theft of his funds by filing false campaign reports on behalf of the committee,” said Gray. “At times he neglected to put on there cash withdrawals and ATM withdrawals also exaggerated legitimate expenses and made up some nonexistent cash expenditures to conceal his theft of the funds.”

McDaniel’s attorney declined to comment, which often means the suspect is cooperating with authorities.

It’s alleged McDaniel wasn’t just covering his tracks. In a settlement with the Philadelphia ethics board, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown admitted that McDaniel concealed how she used campaign funds to repay a personal debt.