Charge - Bribery in Official and Political Matters.
On or about diverse dates between 2003 and December 14, 2005, the defendant offered,conferred or agreed to confer upon (6) members of Harrisburg city council a benefit as consideration for their decision, vote, recommendation or other exercise of official discretion by the recipient in a judicial, administration or legislation proceeding.
Page 42,43.
A city council woman suggested that House ask Reed for $1 million and indicated that was the amount of money it would take for her to vote yes for the bond deal. Mr House testified that he felt that was too large a sum of money and decided to ask Reed for $700,000. He had another meeting with Reed where he pitched the special projects fund and the $700,000 figure. Mr. House testified that Reed was angered by the request but when told the fund was what it was going to take to get the yes votes from city council , he acquiesced and agreed to $500,000. Ultimately, due to budget constraints, the special projects only received $200,000
Page 43.
Randy King testified that the city council wanted a WAM fund (Walking around money) in exchange for pushing forward the vote on incinerator bonds. He indicated that the WAM funds were desirable to city council because "they wanted to throw money around to the community groups so they could gather political support" as they were gearing up for re-election. _________________________________
Archive video April 2015.
Harrisburg city council member Eric Waters introduces a request to award a councilmantic grant to a high school student to attend a leadership conference.
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Archive video broadcast 3.28.12
Harrisburg Mayor Linda D. Thompson - I didn't take no bribe
An agitated Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson responds to questions by CBS News reporter Chris Papst concerning a 2003 transfer of funds moved into City Council's account at Mayor Stephen Reed's order.
Five days prior to the 2003 vote to approve the Incinerator retrofit project, hundreds of thousands of dollars were allocated to Council for what is commonly referred to as Walking Around Money (WAMs).
As a City Councilor at the time, Linda Thompson voted yes to approve the 2003 bond issuance. The vote was 6-1 with Councilor Pat Stringer casting the only nay vote.
Declaring it had nothing to do with her vote, Thompson defends her use of the money she received as a member of Council.
As Reporter Chris Papst asks Thompson about the appearance that the money was transferred so Mayor Reed could secure votes for the retrofit, she cuts him off and says, "I don't know whose votes he secured because he didn't secure my vote. I cannot be bought by no penny or no million dollars."
The Incinerator Forensic Audit Report highlights the occurrence of the transfer, but Thompson tells Papst, "I don't care what the audit says."
She ends the interview abruptly, "I'm done with it." --
Tara Leo Auchey
Photo/Natalie Cake
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Archive video August 2012.
Camp Hill Pa.
Mayor Reed questioned on the 2003 Councilmantic funds.
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Archive video. 10.4.12
Senate committee hearing on the Harrisburg incinerator.
Fred Clark, former chair of the Harrisburg Authority is questioned about the special projects fund set up for city council members to approve the retrofit project.
The 2003 city council fund. I never spoke with Mr. Richard House (Hbg council president)