Online court records show two more current state representatives and one former state representative are facing bribery charges.
Reps. Michelle Brownlee (D-Philadelphia) and Louise Bishop (D-Philadelphia) each face felony charges of bribery and conspiracy as well as charges of accepting improper influence. Former state Rep. Harold James (D-Philadelphia) also faces the same charges.
Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams has scheduled a press conference for 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Williams previously announced similar charges against state Reps. Ron Waters and Vanessa Brown. Both are also Democrats from Philadelphia.
The charges against Brown and Waters stemmed from a sting operation in which the two allegedly accepted cash gifts from a confidential informant working for the Pa. Attorney General’s Office.
The investigation began before current Attorney General Kathleen Kane (D) took office. She stopped the investigation, saying race played a role in who was investigated. All of the state lawmakers identified as allegedly taking cash are African-American.
District Attorney Williams took over the case from Kane, pointing to recordings of the lawmakers allegedly accepting the money and gifts.
The case is being handled in Dauphin County because that’s where the alleged crimes took place.
