Felony Friday: PA State Senator Charged With Using Taxpayer Money For Fundraising
Throughout her time in office, Pennsylvania state senator LeAnna Washington has made it a priority to help constituents manage the stress and confusion of tax season by offering tax preparation seminars. She has regularly partnered with local accountants to bring free tax preparation services to those that attended her seminars. While Senator Washington made an effort to assist in her constituents in paying taxes, she also apparently had a penchant for using taxpayer dollars for personal gain.This week, Mainline Media News reported that state senator LeAnna Washington has been charged with two felonies for her role in allegedly pressuring staff into performing political activities using taxpayer dollars. She is charged with theft of services, a third-degree felony, and a conflict of interest violation under the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act, also a felony. The total maximum prison time for both charges is twelve years and the total maximum fine of $15,000.The investigation into Senator Washington was allegedly triggered by a “disgruntled former employee.” In October of last year Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s office obtained warrants to confiscate documents, computers, and other materials linked to fundraising and campaigning from Washington’s offices.Mainline Media News reported the damning details.
A statewide investigating grand jury found Washington used intimidation and verbal abuse, directed at Senate staff to perform illegal campaign work, according to the release. She is also accused of issuing salary cuts and firing staff who disagreed with the activities, the release states.According to the release, Washington allegedly used state-paid employees and equipment at her district offices to organize an annual political campaign birthday fundraiser. In the release, a former staff member of the senator described the event, which was held in July to coincide with the senator’s birthday, as a “grand, gala event.”
A life in politics can make well-meaning, good spirited people into immoral thieves, hell-bent on retaining their access to power. According to LeAnna Washington’s Facebook page, she served twelve years in the House of Representatives before being elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate on May 17, 2005. If these charges are true, LeAnna Washington was not afraid to break a few laws in order to prolong her political career.There is no way for the casual observer to be certain of Washington’s motivations, but it is not hard to imagine how the lust for power could have clouded her judgment. LeAnna Washtington probably felt that she was the most qualified individual to hold her position as state senator. She most likely reasoned that stealing taxpayer funds to help her re-election campaign would benefit her constituents in the end, because they would be graced by many more years of her benevolent service.The story goes on to describe most instances of the illegal use of taxpayer funds.
The release states some staff members dedicated most of their time in the months and weeks leading up to the fundraiser creating invitations, maintaining databases for invitations, as well as printing thousands of campaign invitations and stuffing and stamping envelopes for the campaign. In addition, they compiled lists of campaign contributions and expenditures to send to Washington’s campaign treasurer, it says.Furthermore, signs and posters for the event were printed at the Senate Graphic Design Department in Harrisburg, as well as congratulatory signs celebrating family milestones and other things for the senator’s campaign activities, the release states.The monetary loss to the commonwealth is believed to be $30,000 to $100,000, the release says.
The most shocking of these particular aspects of the story are the low ball estimate of taxpayer dollars that were estimated to have been illegally used and the fact that the Pennsylvania Senate has their very own graphic design department in Harrisburg. Why the heck does the state of Pennsylvania need their very own graphic design department?Overall, these allegations against Senator Washington are not surprising. The illegal funneling of tax dollars to projects that benefit the initiating politician or a politically connected group are probably more common than most citizens care to recognize.Whenever a story like this breaks my first thought is, "Who did LeAnna Washington piss off in the political establishment to have her dirty laundry aired for all to see?"Unfortunately, the juicy details that comprise that part of the story will probably never be uncovered.
