Bombshell Bonusgate testimony: Manzo says DeWeese knew about bonuses

UPDATED: House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese knew bonuses were illegally being paid to legislative staffer in exchange for political work, according to testimony given Wednesday by his former chief of staff Michael Manzo.

"I believe he did, yes," Manzo said.

DeWeese has repeatedly denied any involvement in "Bonusgate."

Manzo, along with Patrick Lavelle Jr., were two of 12 people indicted as part of the "Bonusgate" investigation, but both cut a deal with prosecutors to testify Wednesday.

Manzo testified the House Democratic Caucus began a concerted effort in 2002, the year Gov. Ed Rendell took office, to get more legislative staffers volunteering for Democratic candidates.

Manzo said his former boss DeWeese, along with ex-House Minority Whip Mike Veon (D-Beavery County), made the decision collectively to expand what at that point had just been a "core group" of 20 or 30 staffers who volunteered.

"The folks in leadership knew we were going to be badly outspent," he testified. "(Republicans) raise more money. Our goal was to have more feet on the ground. It was the only way we could compete."

His testimony also mentioned efforts made by Democrats to throw presidential candidate Ralph Nader off the ballot in Pennsylvania in 2004.

"No one had expertise like House Democrats did ... we had been doing it for years," Manzo said. "So the calculation was made that if Ralph Nader could get on the ballot, John Kerry could lose Pennsylvania."

EARLIER on PolitickerPA.com:

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• Beaver County focus of Tuesday's hearing
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• Bonusgate: Campaigning distracts from constituent services in Beaver County