State Rep. Bill Deweese / The Associated Press
Those of you who tuned in to watch the ongoing DeWeese saga in Harrisburg may have noticed a familiar face, that of former Lancaster County prosecutor K. Kenneth Brown II. Brown served as an assistant district attorney for 10 years here before taking a job with the state attorney general’s office.
Brown served as the lead prosecutor in the latest corruption trial stemming from a five-year investigation into the use of taxpayers’ resources for political purposes. On Monday, a jury convicted Rep. Bill DeWeese of felony counts of conspiracy, conflict of interest and three counts of theft.
The lawmaker’s response was, to those who know him, vintage DeWeese. He intends not only to hang onto his House seat, but to seek re-election this year. ”I believe that, in the court of public opinion, I shall be favorably received to some substantial degree. That’s up to the voters, but I certainly will continue to run,” he told reporters.
To which Brown responded: “He’s a convicted felon and convicted felons, once they’re sentenced, can’t sit in the General Assembly. If he wants to spit in the face of the jury’s verdict, I guess that’s his prerogative.”
My guess is DeWeese will not only continue to serve, but win re-election. This, after all, is Pennsylvania. Whether he’ll actually be able to take his seat is another matter.
