Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/13/2005 | Serious Charges of Corruption Lodged Against Santorum by Republican Legislator

Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/13/2005 | Legislator guilty on staff duties: "Posted on Tue, Dec. 13, 2005

Legislator guilty on staff duties
A jury found Jeff Habay, 39, had political work done on state time. The legislature could remove him.
By Sean D. Hamill
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH - A Western Pennsylvania state representative was convicted yesterday of making his legislative staff do political campaign work on state time.

Jeff Habay, 39, a six-term Republican from Allegheny County, will lose his state pension and could be removed from office by the legislature because of the felony conviction for conflict of interest.

After the verdict, Habay said the case was the result of a political witch hunt by U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and former Allegheny County Executive Jim Roddey, both Republicans.

"Any time I spoke up, I was punished by Jim Roddey and Rick Santorum," Habay said.

"I've taken on corrupt leaders in this county," he said, adding that the message of his case and conviction was that if you speak out, "the powers that be will try to crush you, stomp you, and push you out."

Santorum and Roddey did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

Habay said the allegations in his case did not make sense for a lawmaker repeatedly reelected by wide margins and with rare opposition.

"I have had one contested race in seven years. How can I be campaigning out of my [legislative] office?" Habay asked.

Habay said he was not sure whether he would resign and said he intended to appeal. He faces sentencing Jan. 30. The standard range of punishment in such a case ranges from probation to 15 months in prison, prosecutors said.

Senior Deputy Attorney General Anthony Krastek dismissed Habay's argument that the case was politically motivated.

The case against Habay was the result of a State Ethics Commission investigation.

In June 2004, the commission ordered Habay to repay the state about $13,000 for making his staff do campaign work on state time. The commission then referred the case to the Attorney General's Office, which filed the felony charges.

Habay also faces a second trial next year on 21 counts that allege he concocted a story about receiving a suspicious white powder in the mail and directed his staff to investigate his adversaries on state time."