Former Philly Mayor has role in Brady case

Former Philadelphia Mayor W. Wilson Goode had at least a tangential role in events under scrutiny by federal authorities involving U.S. Rep. Bob Brady’s 2012 re-election campaign. Though Brady is not charged in the case, prosecutors have said in court filings that he agreed to pay $90,000 in campaign funds to retire campaign debts of his opponent, Jimmie Moore, in return for Moore dropping out of the race.

The filings say the deal was struck in a February 2012 meeting between Brady and Moore, and that a former public official, identified as “Person 3” was also present. Two sources told me that person was Goode, so I called and asked him.

“I may have arranged a meeting around that time, but would not have participated in the meeting,” Goode said.

Later in the conversation, he seemed more certain, saying, “I facilitated a meeting.” I asked if he was aware of any deal between Brady and Moore that involved Moore withdrawing and getting help with his campaign debt.

“I was aware at some time after there was a meeting that there had been an agreement,” Goode said, “but was not aware of what the agreement was.”

Goode said he was certain he was never in a meeting in which there were negotiations about Moore getting out of the race. Goode has known Moore, a former municipal court judge, for decades.

The April meetingAnother court filing by prosecutors says Brady visited Person 3, the former public official, in April of this year after Brady was interviewed by the FBI and that he attempted to “influence Person 3’s account of the matter under investigation.”

I asked Goode if he recalled such a meeting, and whether Brady mentioned having talked to the FBI. “I did have a meeting a meeting with Brady, yes,” Goode said. “He did not mention the FBI.”

When I asked what the meeting was about, Goode decided it was time to wrap our conversation up. “I think that I’ve said all I want to say at this point,” he said, “and would just say that I think that there are facts which need to be brought out, that are not a part of what you have there,” referring to the court filings I’d read to him.

Goode said he hadn’t retained a lawyer because he saw no need to. He declined to say whether he’d been contacted by the FBI.

What does this tell us? It appears Goode is the Person 3 of the government’s filings, but he disputes that he was at the critical meeting where Moore’s withdrawal from the race was allegedly negotiated.

Attorneys for Brady and Moore have said they did nothing wrong, though they acknowledge payments were made from Brady’s campaign fund after Moore withdrew to help with his campaign debts.

Moore’s former campaign manager, Carolyn Cavaness, pleaded guilty to filing false campaign finance reports to cover up the payments.

No one else has been charged.