1-15 BONUSGATE - Perretta Lawyer Wants Twitter Ban
By Brad Bumsted
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, January 15, 2010
Last updated: 2:09 pm
Buzz up!
HARRISBURG -- An attorney representing a defendant in the legislative bonus scandal today asked a judge to ban observers from sending updates by "social networking systems," including Twitter, during the trial that begins Tuesday.
Michael Palermo, a Carlisle attorney representing former House staffer Annamarie Peretta-Rosepink, claims that "tweets" -- news snippets filed on Twitter - essentially updated sequestered witnesses during a preliminary hearing.
Dauphin County Judge Richard Lewis is considering the request.
Trial begins Tuesday for former House Democratic Whip Mike Veon; Peretta-Rosepink, who ran his district office in Beaver Falls; Harrisburg aide Brett Cott; and Stephen Keefer, who ran the information technology department for Democrats.
Veon was one of 12 defendants charged in July 2008 with theft, conspiracy and conflict of interest for allegedly using taxpayers' money for campaigns and other political tasks. Veon is accused of overseeing a $1 million-plus bonus system for House Democratic staffers who worked on campaigns.
Defense lawyers asked Lewis to throw out e-mail evidence because they received only selected messages - not computer hard drives - from prosecutors.
Veon's lawyers say it is necessary to review an entire e-mail string, not just portions.
Prosecutors argue the e-mails speak for themselves and are critical to the case against Veon.
Seven of the 12 Democratic defendants entered guilty pleas last week and are expected to be witnesses at Veon's trial.
Former Rep. Sean Ramaley, of Baden, accused of holding a "ghost job" in Veon's office, was acquitted last month.
Ten Republicans, including former House Speaker John Perzel of Philadelphia, face criminal charges for allegedly diverting $10 million in tax money for sophisticated computer systems to give the GOP an edge in elections. Perzel and other Republican defendants say they are innocent.
Three other Democrats, including former House Speaker Bill DeWeese of Greene County, were charged last month with using public resources for campaigns. DeWeese, who maintains his innocence, is accused of running his campaigns out of his Harrisburg and district offices.
DeWeese, through former caucus attorney William Chadwick, turned thousands of e-mails over to prosecutors while serving as majority leader.
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, January 15, 2010
Last updated: 2:09 pm
Buzz up!
HARRISBURG -- An attorney representing a defendant in the legislative bonus scandal today asked a judge to ban observers from sending updates by "social networking systems," including Twitter, during the trial that begins Tuesday.
Michael Palermo, a Carlisle attorney representing former House staffer Annamarie Peretta-Rosepink, claims that "tweets" -- news snippets filed on Twitter - essentially updated sequestered witnesses during a preliminary hearing.
Dauphin County Judge Richard Lewis is considering the request.
Trial begins Tuesday for former House Democratic Whip Mike Veon; Peretta-Rosepink, who ran his district office in Beaver Falls; Harrisburg aide Brett Cott; and Stephen Keefer, who ran the information technology department for Democrats.
Veon was one of 12 defendants charged in July 2008 with theft, conspiracy and conflict of interest for allegedly using taxpayers' money for campaigns and other political tasks. Veon is accused of overseeing a $1 million-plus bonus system for House Democratic staffers who worked on campaigns.
Defense lawyers asked Lewis to throw out e-mail evidence because they received only selected messages - not computer hard drives - from prosecutors.
Veon's lawyers say it is necessary to review an entire e-mail string, not just portions.
Prosecutors argue the e-mails speak for themselves and are critical to the case against Veon.
Seven of the 12 Democratic defendants entered guilty pleas last week and are expected to be witnesses at Veon's trial.
Former Rep. Sean Ramaley, of Baden, accused of holding a "ghost job" in Veon's office, was acquitted last month.
Ten Republicans, including former House Speaker John Perzel of Philadelphia, face criminal charges for allegedly diverting $10 million in tax money for sophisticated computer systems to give the GOP an edge in elections. Perzel and other Republican defendants say they are innocent.
Three other Democrats, including former House Speaker Bill DeWeese of Greene County, were charged last month with using public resources for campaigns. DeWeese, who maintains his innocence, is accused of running his campaigns out of his Harrisburg and district offices.
DeWeese, through former caucus attorney William Chadwick, turned thousands of e-mails over to prosecutors while serving as majority leader.