The Republican Party of Pennsylvania’s chairman said the city’s one-party rule has resulted in corruption.
Republican Party of Pennsylvania chairman Val DiGiorgio called news of Democrat Seth Williams’ guilty plea “especially sad,” as the two are members of the Central High School class of 1985.
Williams abruptly pleaded guilty to a federal corruption charge on June 29 and was immediately jailed.
“Unfortunately, the result of Philadelphia’s several-decade-old, one-party rule has been widespread corruption. A lack of accountability from public officials has bred this culture of corruption, something Seth fell into while serving as district attorney. It’s time for change,” DiGiorgio said.
“Philadelphia deserves public servants committed to honesty and integrity, not blind allegiance to partisan politics. As its longstanding status as America’s poorest large city demonstrates, Philadelphia is in desperate need of dramatic change in its leadership. The first opportunity to bring this change will be by electing Beth Grossman Philadelphia’s next district attorney.”
Grossman, a Republican, faces Democrat Larry Krasner.
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Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Young Republicans are condemning what they call “the continued corruption, extortion and gross misconduct of Democrats in Philadelphia.”
Ross Wolfe, chairman of the local Republican group, said the city Democratic party has become a “criminal enterprise.”
“Corruption has become the modus operandi of Democrats in Philadelphia,” he said. “Chaka Fattah, LeAnna Washington, Ron Waters, Harold James, Michelle Brownlee, Louise Bishop, Leslie Acosta, four Traffic Court judges, and now (Renee) Tartaglione, to name only a few of the Philly Democrats convicted over the last two years.”
Wolfe faulted party leaders for remaining silent in the face of all those convictions, noting that more of them have called for the impeachment of President Donald Trump than Seth Williams’ resignation before his guilty plea.
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AFSCME District Council 47 has endorsed Democrat Larry Krasner for district attorney.
“AFSCME District Council 47 is proud to endorse Larry Krasner for DA,” said union president Fred Wright. “We know Larry will fight for the people and ensure that the criminal justice system works for all Philadelphians. I know Larry will be the responsible steward of the public trust that we need. The brothers and sisters of AFSCME DC 47 will be working to ensure Larry Krasner gets elected on November 7th.”
Krasner, a longtime civil rights lawyer, won a seven-way Democratic primary with 38 percent of the vote, thanks in large part to a $1.7 million contribution from ultra-liberal New York billionaire George Soros. ••
