Pa. senator from Philly to plead guilty in corruption case

Pennsylvania Sen. Leanna Washington of Philadelphia has agreed to plead guilty to political corruption charges.

The state attorney general’s office says it will be a negotiated plea, an indication Washington will either face reduced charges or a reduced sentence in return for admitting her guilt.

The terms of the plea agreement haven’t yet been disclosed. Washington faces two felony counts, which carry maximum penalties of five and seven years in prison.

A year ago, Washington was a 20-year Democratic legislator representing parts of Northwest Philadelphia and Montgomery County, likely headed for an easy re-election. Then her offices were raided in October 2013 by investigators from the state attorney general’s office. In March she was arrested and charged with using her Senate staff and public funds for political activity, her annual birthday fundraiser.

Washington initially said she would contest the case in court, and continued her re-election campaign while facing criminal charges. But she lost the May Democratic primary to Arthur Haywood, and this week her attorney informed the judge in the case she plans to plead guilty.