Perzel expected to turn himself in Friday

    Attorney General Tom Corbett says John Perzel is the architect of a plan that spent more than ten million dollars of taxpayer money for campaigning.

    Attorney General Tom Corbett says John Perzel is the architect of a plan that spent more than ten million dollars of taxpayer money for campaigning. Perzel says the charges are politically motivated.

    Listen:
    [audio: 091113spindict.mp3]

    Perzel is charged along with nine others associated with the House Republican Caucus.

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    The charges come a year and a half after similar indictments pursued by the Attorney General’s office against members of the House Democratic Caucus.

    Representative Perzel denies the charges, and says in a written statement that it “smacks of political opportunism.”

    Until now, Attorney General Tom Corbett has caught heat for only going after Democrats. Corbett is a Republican running for Governor in 2010. That has sparked its own controversy from those who say, he should not be a candidate investigating politicians.

    Franklin and Marshall political science professor Terry Madonna says Corbett will face scrutiny regarding this latest indictment.

    Madonna: And that’s gonna be a reoccurring question that will be raised. It was raised after bonusgate 1, it will be raised more seriously after bonusgate 2, this current round, should he resign? Should there be a firewall between himself and the actual prosecutions?

    Corbett faces Congressman Jim Gerlach for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. At least five Democrats are also running to replace Governor Ed Rendell who is term limited.

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