by KYW's Tony Romeo
One day after charges were announced, defendants in the Pennsylvania "bonusgate" probe were arraigned before a magisterial district judge in Harrisburg.
Among those defendants who showed up to be arraigned were Michael Manzo –- former chief of staff to House Democratic leader William DeWeese –- and his wife Rachel, a House Democratic staffer.
Jim Eisenhower is the attorney for Michael Manzo:
“Anyone who believes that the allegations in this presentment were masterminded by Mike Manzo for his benefit are very naïve.”
Manzo is accused of taking part in an effort to divert taxpayer resources for political work. He’s also accused of creating a job for another woman with whom he had an affair (see previous story).
Regardless, Manzo’s wife brought envelopes stuffed with $20 bills in order to meet the terms of her husband’s bail, which was 10 percent of $100,000.
Bail was set at $50,000 for former House Democratic whip Mike Veon. Veon said little as he headed in for his arraignment.
Prosecutors sought $100,000 bail for Veon, accused of being one of the organizers of an effort to divert taxpayer funds for campaign purposes.
But Veon’s lawyer argued for lower bail, saying there were no “individual or direct victims” of the crimes of which Veon is accused.
But deputy attorney general James Reeder said the victim was our democracy, and he seemed satisfied with the $50,000 bail:
“Well, the judge did what the judge was going to do. We had an argument and the judge, I think, reached sort of a compromise position.”
A hearing was set for later this month but is likely to be postponed.
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