Most Popular Videos Featured On KDKA.com
May 8, 2009 9:08 pm US/Eastern
Meehan To Take On Corbett For GOP Gov.'s Race
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
-
-
Patrick Meehan, a highly regarded former Delaware County district attorney and federal prosecutor, is gearing up to take on Corbett.
KDKA
Some may have assumed that Attorney General Tom Corbett would be the Republican nominee for governor next year, but don't tell Patrick Meehan that.
Meehan, a highly regarded former Delaware County District Attorney and federal prosecutor, is gearing up to take on Corbett.
And he's already done one thing Corbett has not -- resign his office to run.
As the U.S. Attorney in Eastern Pennsylvania, Meehan is well-known in Philadelphia because he brought down State Senator Vincent Fumo.
"Political corruption, investigated and prosecuted Vince Fumo, arguably the second most powerful politician for what was the crimes associated with his conduct there in Harrisburg," Meehan told KDKA political editor Jon Delano.
"And he (Fumo) was ultimately found guilty," said Meehan, "137 guilty counts."
Now Meehan is going statewide, exploring a race for governor which would put him up against another prosecutor, Attorney General Tom Corbett.
"Doing a good job as attorney general. I'd like to see him stay as attorney general, finish some of the work that he is doing and allow me to run for governor," Meehan says with a laugh.
Meehan resigned as prosecutor when he decided to run for governor so that nobody could accuse him of being political against Fumo.
"Prosecution and politics is a very volatile mix," he adds. "I made a choice to step away so that the two would be completely separated and my prosecution would stand on its merits."
Meehan says Corbett should think about doing the same -- to keep the Bonus-gate prosecution from becoming political as the election nears and pressure to charge others mount.
"As you make those decisions, it's important that people have a sense of confidence that the factor that is driving that is exclusively what is right or wrong, what's legal or illegal, that there's no political implication to any decisions," said Meehan.
And making decisions is a skill the one-time professional hockey referee says he has.
"What enables you to have control of the games is really the respect of the players -- and they respect you because you're honest and you're fair," said Meehan. "And I would suggest that's what the people are looking for in the political context."
Now there's no law that requires Corbett, Meehan, or any other prosecutor to resign to run for office -- and Meehan says he's not accusing Corbett of engaging in political prosecutions.
But it's all about appearances and he thinks the Democrats will use the issue if Corbett wins the GOP nomination.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Latest 5-Day Forecast
Click to enlarge
New Winter Storm Moves Into Pittsburgh Area 35 mins ago 
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments