Ethics Complaint Filed Against Fumo

TO: All Media
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2004

Philadelphia, PA – This morning, John H. Morley, Jr. the pro choice, fiscally
conservative Republican candidate challenging twenty six year incumbent State Senator Vince Fumo, publicly stated that he has filed a formal ethics complaint with the Pennsylvania State Senate Ethics Committee against Senator Vince Fumo.

On April 11th Morley sent a letter to the State Senate Ethics Committee stating that Fumo had violated the written rules of the Senate by using a legal counsel of the Senate Appropriations Committee to represent Fumo in a private legal matter. Morley alleges that Fumo hired Christopher Craig, an attorney who was paid to serve as an official legal counsel to the Senate Appropriations Committee, to defend Fumo in a legal challenge to his nominating petition that was brought forth by former State Senatorial candidate, Dr. James Tayoun, Jr.

The rules of the Senate clearly state that a member of the Appropriations Committee, of which Senator Fumo is the minority chairman, may not be represented by legal counsel of the committee in any private legal matter. Additionally the rules make clear that legal counsel to the Appropriations Committee may not represent any members of the committeepersons’ staff.

Morley’s complaint alleges that Christopher Craig represented Fumo in 3 private legal matters in both Commonwealth Court and in the State Supreme Court. The complaint acknowledges that Craig was present at Fumo’s counsel table on March 17, 2004 during oral arguments in a private legal matter. It is also noted that Craig signed at least two legal pleadings for Fumo in 2004.

The complaint filed by Morley also acknowledges that this is not the first time Fumo has used an attorney who was employed by the State Senate to represent him in private legal matters. Fumo hired attorney Howard Cain, who was employed at the time by the Senate Appropriations Committee, to prepare a lawsuit in March 2000 in an attempt to challenge the nominating petitions of Morley when Morley ran against Fumo four years ago. Fumo’s challenge failed as a judge ruled the nominating petition was valid and Morley remained on the ballot.

“I think the 1st Senatorial District has stomached enough controversy from the State Senator”, stated Morley. He went on to add that the Senator “has spent so much time involving himself in matters of questionable ethics and integrity that he has forgotten about his constituents and what it means to be a true pubic servant.”

He also argues that Craig should reimburse the Commonwealth for the work he did for Senator Fumo, Fumo should be temporarily removed from the Senate Appropriations Committee until the investigation is completed and that Fumo should be permanently removed if Craig fails to reimburse the Commonwealth for the private work he did for Fumo while being employed by the State Senate.

Morley also noted that he received a letter from State Senator Jeff Piccola dated April 13th which indicated that the Ethics Committee would begin an investigation and proceed in accordance with the rules of the Senate.