Froth Slosh B'Gosh

Orie Resigns, Accusations From Melvin's Camp

Jane Orie, facing sentancing following her felony and misdemenor convictions, resigned from the Pennsylvania Senate yesterday.

Meanwhile, her sister, accused Pennsylvania State Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie-Melvin, is claiming through her attorney that Allegheny County DA Zappala is engaged in a political vendetta against the Orie family.

And to that, I say, "So what?"  I don't have a clue if Zappala has a vendetta against the Ories or not, but the fact of the matter is, a grand jury found enough evidence to warrant charges.  If the evidence isn't there, no charges would be forthcoming.

Bottom line, if you have political enemies, be they real or perceived, its not a good idea to provide them with ammunition they can use against you.

Orie-Melvin Charged

State Supreme Court Justice faces charges in the Orie Affair.  Looks like she's charged with four felony and five misdemeanor counts.  The criminal complaint against her is here. 

The charges include three counts of theft of services, two counts of criminal conspiracy to commit tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, two counts of official oppression and one count each of criminal conspiracy to commit theft of services and misapplication of entrusted property of government.

The grand jury's presentment is here, and it sounds like working for the Orie sisters was a nightmare.

 Its good that she's stepping aside (although not resigning her seat) until the case is resolved.  So as it stands, we now have one Orie convicted and awaiting sentencing, another awaiting trial, and now a third facing charges.   

Orie Guilty On 15 Counts, Aquitted On Ten

Looks like someone is headed to the Big House.

An Allegheny County jury convicted state Sen. Jane Orie today of 14 of the 24 counts in her public corruption trial and acquitted the McCandless Republican of others after five days of deliberation.

The jury found Ms. Orie guilty of multiple counts of theft of services, conflict of interest, ethics violations, tampering with evidence and forgery, and a single count of conspiracy.

Ms. Orie was found not guilty of counts of perjury, obstruction of justice and election code violations. The jury also found her not guilty on counts related to her sister, state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin.

The guilty verdicts jeopardize her seat in Harrisburg and her state pension.

I still have to wonder if there is anyone in Harrisburg who isn't corrupt.

DeWeese Guilty

And another one gone.

Jurors have found Democratic state Rep. Bill DeWeese, the onetime House speaker from Waynesburg, guilty on five of six felony counts in a case in which he was accused of directing his legislative staffers to perform political activities during state work hours.

The sound you just heard was the Orie sisters and Judge Melvin puckering.

 

The Melvin Matter

The P-G is reporting that demands for the resignation of State Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin are mounting.

"It is time for Justice Melvin to leave the Supreme Court, either voluntarily or involuntarily," Tim Potts, leader of Democracy Rising PA, told a news conference Tuesday.

It was disclosed last week that Justice Melvin is the target of a grand jury investigation into illegal campaign activities.

The plot thickens....

The Other Orie Shoe Drops

I speculated about it recently, and now the Post-Gazette confirms it:  State Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin IS a target of a criminal investigation.

Justice Joan Orie Melvin continues to sit on the state Supreme Court even after receiving a letter last month identifying her as the target of a criminal investigation.

Justice Melvin, a Republican, received the letter and subpoena to appear before the Allegheny County investigating grand jury on Dec. 15 -- the day before additional charges were filed against her sister Janine.

The justice received the letter and subpoena about a week before. She did not testify and has not been charged.

The paper goes on to cite Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille as saying Melvin would likely be suspended with pay if she's formally charged.  Timing is everything, if Melvin is charged, that would leave the Supreme Court's makeup tied between Republicans and Democrats at a time when the Court is likely to rule on the GOP's redistricting plan. 

While I find the  grand jury's timing interesting, let us not forget what Judge Melvin is alleged to have said to the Republican faithful while she was running for office.  Let's check in via the wayback machine to October of 2009 with Gort 42:

In her previous visit to Wilkes-Barre in May she gave a long rambling speech to the local GOP faithful. In that speech she listed as one of her selling points was the upcoming redistricting after the 2010 Census telling the partisan crowd that they needed a Republican on the court to rule in favor of Republicans in any challenges to whatever plan emerges.

So much for Judges being above politics.

Payback?

If charges are brought, and I were in Melvin's shoes, I'd resign, thereby giving Governor Bought 'n' Paid For the ability to appoint a new justice pending a special election.