Two Guilty Pleas in Controversial Philadelphia Political Corruption Case
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- Two Philadelphia politicians caught on tape accepting money from an informant were sentenced today to probation after pleading guilty in a Dauphin County courtroom.
This was the latest development in a sting operation that was shut down by the state attorney general and later resurrected by Philadelphia DA Seth Williams.
State representative Ronald Waters (D-Phila.) pleaded guilty to several counts of conflict of interest and was sentenced to 23 months' probation. He is also resigning his office.
Former Pa. House member Harold James (D-Phila.) pleaded guilty to one count of conflict of interest and was sentenced to 12 months' probation.
Philadelphia assistant district attorney Mark Gilson said he was satisfied with the sentences of probation, noting that Pennsylvania attorney general Kathleen Kane had at one time declared the case dead on arrival.
"Non-prosecutable," Gilson recalls Kane calling the case. "And today, two defendants pled guilty. I think that tells you everything you need to know about the strength and quality of this case."
A third defendant, Pa. Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown, was also in court today but signaled she wants to go to trial in this case.
