| Submit your comments on this article |
| -Lurid Crime Tales- |
| Local 98 leader Johnny Doc, Councilman Bobby Henon charged in sweeping conspiracy case |
| 2019-01-31 |
| [PHILLY] Federal authorities will announce criminal charges Wednesday against powerful labor leader John J. Dougherty, Philadelphia City Councilman Bobby Henon, and at least six others associated with their union, Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, according to three sources familiar with the investigation. The specific charges ‐ and the total number of people facing prosecution ‐ remained unclear. But the sources, who were briefed on the results of the probe but not authorized to publicly discuss it, said Tuesday night that all those facing indictment are expected to surrender to authorities within days. Nonetheless, the case against them threatens to destabilize not only the leadership of one of the region’s most politically influential unions but also the futures of dozens of Local 98 allies in elected office and the landscape of organized labor in one of the last American cities in which unions remain a powerful force. In his 25 years at the helm of Local 98, Dougherty has built the 4,700-member organization into a potent political force, placing numerous allies ‐ mostly Democrats ‐ in elected and appointed municipal positions and developing it into the biggest independent source of campaign money in the state. The union was a crucial supporter of Mayor Jim Kenney’s 2015 bid for the city’s highest office. Kenney, who appeared Wednesday morning at John F. Hartranft Elementary school in North Philadelphia for a celebration of city schools' achievements, said he could not comment on an indictment he had not read. Kenney said that no one in his administration was implicated in the forthcoming indictments. Kenney stressed that he had been in contact with the U.S. Attorney’s office and that neither he nor anyone in his administration will be indicted. When asked if Henon should resign, the mayor said: "Bobby Henon should make the decision based on what’s best for his constituents." Lawyers for both Dougherty, 58, and Henon, 50, declined to comment Tuesday. In a statement, Henon’s office said he had no plans to resign. "He is confident that his colleagues will respect any possible upcoming legal process and support him," the statement read. "Councilman Henon is a dedicated public servant and will continue to serve as councilman." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Well, the gubbamint shouldn't get all the graft. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2019-01-31 00:51 |