PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A federal judge has denied a defense motion to dismiss bribery and conspiracy charges against Philadelphia City Councilmember Bobby Henon and labor leader John Dougherty, except to drop charges against Dougherty connected to one of the overt acts in the indictment.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Schmehl said that Dougherty would be stricken from allegations involving the Philadelphia Parking Authority, in which prosecutors allege Henon voted against a non-binding resolution calling for an audit of the agency because its board chair had offered to pay for windows for Henon’s chief of staff.
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With all the other counts standing, the defense began its case.
Witnesses included laborers union leader Ryan Boyer, who talked about his own efforts to lobby City Council, creating context for Dougherty’s activities.
Dougherty’s attorney also called the retired electricians union safety officer, who explained his complaints to the city about unlicensed workers installing an MRI machine at Children’s Hospital.
He said he ha’d seen bad results, including shock hazards and fires, from work done by non-union electricians.
The defense case is expected to last one to three days.
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Just before the the defense began its case, the prosecution rested after playing one last wiretapped phone call between Dougherty and then-mayor-elect Jim Kenney.
Dougherty assured Kenney he won’t be calling often. “I call Bobby Henon like three times a year,” he said, “and he’s on my payroll.”
Dougherty, a major force in Pennsylvania politics, has steered more than $30 million over the years to mostly Democratic candidates, and his brother sits on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
He still faces a second trial on charges he and others embezzled more than $600,000 from Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which he leads.
