Politician Sting Case Files Unsealed
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa., (CBS) -- A judge in Harrisburg has unsealed the record in the case of an aborted sting operation that ensnared several top Philadelphia Democrats.
Last month, Attorney General Kathleen Kane cited racial targeting as one reason she believes the sting operation was fatally flawed. At a news conference after the case record was unsealed Thursday, Kane said despite his denials, Claude Thomas – now an investigator with the Philadelphia DA's office – made the racial claim in an exit interview with the AG's office.
"He said that he was directed to focus only on the black caucus. He told us that," Kane said.
But Kane and her top aides said it was their understanding that Thomas did not say who gave him that order. A motion filed by the attorney for the informant in the case claims the sting netted "at least eight elected representatives" who sold their "votes for cash". But a top aide to Kane who reviewed the case said he did not find sufficient evidence that votes were sold.
