Juror: Fumo had "an obligation to the public"

Former state Senator Vincent Fumo was convicted today on all 137 counts of fraud and obstruction of justice. The former Democratic power broker was found guilty of defrauding the state Senate, a museum and a South Philadelphia non-profit of more than $3.5 million.

Former state Senator Vincent Fumo was convicted today on all 137 counts of fraud and obstruction of justice.  The former Democratic power broker was found guilty of defrauding the state Senate, a museum and a South Philadelphia non-profit of more than $3.5 million.

Transcript:
The U.S. Attorney’s office says they built a solid case that proved hard work and good deeds cannot justify the fraud exhibited by Fumo.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Pease says that “other people’s money” – a phrase used by Fumo and brought up frequently at trial – was key to his conviction.

Pease: “We charged and proved that Vince Fumo, throughout his time as a state senator, saw every opportunity to take advantage of ways to pay for things using money that wasn’t his own, whether it was the senate’s, Citizens Alliance’s, the Independence Seaport Museum’s.”

Members of the jury say they were unanimous, even after deliberating for several days in an effort to find reasonable doubt on the charges.

Juror Kim Guckin from Lower Bucks County said the evidence against Fumo was overwhelming.

Guckin: “He does have an obligation to the public, he has an obligation to the people who supported him and how dare he say, all I have to do is show up and vote if he felt like it.”

Fumo’s bail was set at $2 million.