The Philadelphia District Attorney announced charges against two Democrat State Representatives who were caught on camera accepting bribes from an undercover agent. Vanessa Lowery Brown and Ron Waters are charged with conspiracy, bribery, conflict of interest and other crimes. Both were caught on camera during a long-running sting operation that Attorney General Kathleen Kane decided not to prosecute last year because the investigation was flawed. Kane said the case depended on a questionable informant, who was himself charged in a massive fraud case. Kane also felt the sting targeted black legislators.
Philadelphia DA Seth Williams took up the case and says the case is not racially motivated. He says the evidence is strong and that Brown and Waters admitted before the grand jury that they knowingly and willingly took the money: Waters took $8,750 in cash and Brown accepted $4,000.
Brown and Waters surrendered themselves on the charges in front of MDJ Michael Smith today.
