PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Margo Davidson, a longtime Delaware County state representative and high-ranking Democrat, is stepping down in the wake of being charged with theft and election code violations for what the state called a "reimbursement scheme."
Davidson is accused of requesting payment for expenses that were already covered by her campaign. According to a criminal complaint, on "numerous occasions," she requested per diem reimbursements of overnight stays in Harrisburg when she didn't stay overnight.
Most of those expenses were for parking, gas, hotels and tolls between 2015 and 2019.
The complaint also says investigators looked at Davidson's phone records, which showed that her phone was not in Harrisburg on nights that she claimed on overnight per diem requests. Investigators said some turnpike toll receipts she submitted showed she wasn't in Harrisburg overnight either.
The complaint also accuses Davidson of asking someone to lie to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General when that person was contacted as part of the investigation.
There are also charges stemming from allegations of election code violations.
According to Attorney General Josh Shapiro, Davidson has resigned and is accepting responsibility.
She waived her preliminary hearing and has paid restitution of $6,925.
Davidson, 58, was first elected in 2010 and took office in 2011. She was most recently the Democratic chair of the House State Government Committee. According to House rules, a special election has to be held two to six months out from a vacancy.
