Post by Logan on Apr 24, 2016 4:45:00 GMT -6
Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski's campaign manager, who packed up his life and disappeared after City Hall was raided last July, appeared in a Philadelphia courtroom to face a corruption charge Thursday, but what everyone wanted to talk about was what his boss said on a secret recording.
The federal charging documents against Mike Fleck include a quote from an unnamed figure called "Public Official No. 3" who not only drops the F-bomb, but allegedly threatens to cut off contracts to a law firm if it doesn't pony up more campaign donations. That elected official — described in court documents as an Allentown official with control over municipal contracts who announced a bid for U.S. Senate last April — can only be Pawlowski.
So, does that incendiary quote spell trouble for the mayor of the state's third-largest city, or does it equate to little more than blustering barroom talk between friends?
Lawyers familiar with the case say the statement would be a significant piece of evidence against the mayor, who has not been charged but whose attorney has said he expects him to be indicted. Fleck, who several sources say recorded Pawlowski for the FBI, could get a 10-year sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion and bribery offenses, and tax evasion.
Read more: www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-allentown-fbi-pawlowski-evidence-20160423-story.html
The federal charging documents against Mike Fleck include a quote from an unnamed figure called "Public Official No. 3" who not only drops the F-bomb, but allegedly threatens to cut off contracts to a law firm if it doesn't pony up more campaign donations. That elected official — described in court documents as an Allentown official with control over municipal contracts who announced a bid for U.S. Senate last April — can only be Pawlowski.
So, does that incendiary quote spell trouble for the mayor of the state's third-largest city, or does it equate to little more than blustering barroom talk between friends?
Lawyers familiar with the case say the statement would be a significant piece of evidence against the mayor, who has not been charged but whose attorney has said he expects him to be indicted. Fleck, who several sources say recorded Pawlowski for the FBI, could get a 10-year sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion and bribery offenses, and tax evasion.
Read more: www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-allentown-fbi-pawlowski-evidence-20160423-story.html