Former Speaker O'Donnell warns of investigations into legislature

HARRISBURG -- Former Democratic Speaker of the House Robert O'Donnell said Monday he fears the influence of criminal investigations into the legislature but declined to specifically criticize Republican Attorney General Tom Corbett's "Bonusgate" investigation.

The rules of what constitutes illegal politicking on the taxpayer dime are very unclear, O'Donnell said, speaking at the monthly Pennsylvania Press Club Luncheon. As a result, they're applied very unevenly, he said.

Why is state Sen. Vince Fumo (D-Philadelphia) being indicted, for example, while Karl Rove walks free, O'Donnell asked. Don't Philadelphia judges have have staff members dedicated to their personal lives, the very thing Fumo is being indicted for?

"A substantial part of his indictment had to do with that idea," O'Donnell said.

He quoted Thomas Jefferson when he said citizens should never feel safe when the legislature is in session. The old quote has a new twist in Pennsylvania, he said.

"Now, the legislature is not safe as long as the grand jury is in session," O'Donnell said, drawing laughs from the audience.

Attorney General Corbett indicted 12 people with ties to the House Democratic Caucus in July with illegally using taxpayer money to fund a multi-million dollar political operation. Critics have called his investigation partisan, especially after the Republican did not make any additional indictments before Election Day.

But O'Donnell said despite "the very real" pressure to politicize any investigation, he thinks Corbett had done a good job.

"I have not seen any evidence Corbett has strayed from his professional responsibility," the former speaker said.

O'Donnell, a Philadelphia native, was House speaker from 1990 to 1992.