Corbett Says GOP Grand Jury After Election

Today at the Pennsylvania Press Club, Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett made this announcement:

Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett will not file any new charges in the public-cash-for-political gain scandal known as "Bonusgate," until after the Nov. 4 election.

"You all know that this is a grand jury investigation. The grand jury will sit for one more week before the election," Corbett said in a speech before the Pennsylvania Press Club this afternoon. "I know this investigation very well. I know that my office cannot present to the grand jury, in that one week, all of the testimony and other evidence that will be necessary to complete the next phase of the investigation. ("Corbett: No more 'Bonusgate' charges until after Nov. 4," by John Micek, Morning Call 9/22)

Earlier this month the rationale was a little different ("Charges in 'Bonusgate' may wait until after the election," by Peter Jackson, Inquirer, 9/10)

Corbett told the Associated Press that, to avoid undue influence on the balloting, his office would not charge anyone in the Capitol scandal between Oct. 1 and the election. He said the self-imposed moratorium was modeled on a policy that was in force when he was a federal prosecutor in Western Pennsylvania.

"It's just an abundance of caution," he said. "It might affect my election by not doing it. I don't know."

Taking the election of those who might be under suspicion is one thing but thinking of his own election is worse.

In July about 12 people associated with the House Democratic caucus were arrested; their preliminary hearing is set for Oct 7th, less than a month before the elections.