Pocono News Section

Three More People Charged in Bonusgate Investigation

Three More People Charged in Bonusgate Investigation - Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 1:30PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Tuesday, Dec 15, 2009 @ 01:30pm EST

HARRISBURG -- More corruption charges have hit the State Capitol today. At 1:00 PM, the state Attorney General announced new charges in the ongoing “Bonusgate” investigation.

At a news conference in Harrisburg, PA Attorney General Tom Corbett announced charges have been filed against Representative H. William DeWeese, of Greene County, and former Representative and current state Department of Revenue Secretary Stephen Stetler of York County. Also charged is DeWeese district aide Sharon Rodavich.

The new charges come after the alleged misuse of public resources and employees for campaign purposes in the Pennsylvania legislature.

This ongoing corruption investigation began several years ago, with the first wave of charges coming in July 2008. Twelve democrats were taken into custody and charged with misusing millions of taxpayer dollars and resources to fund political campaigns. The biggest name netted was Democratic Minority Whip Mike Veon. He’s expected to go to trial next month.

Former State Representative Sean Ramaley was cleared of all the charges against him last week in the first case that went to trial.

The second wave of “Bonusgate” charges came last month. This time, ten republicans were charged with misusing more than $10 million in taxpayer money by spending it on “technology programs” to keep them in office. Former republican member of the House of Representatives Brett Feese from Lycoming County was netted in that bust. He’s also a former district attorney.

In all, more than 20 people connected to the state legislature have been arrested over the last two years.

We'll have much more on the charges and reaction to them beginning on Eyewitness News Live at 5:00.