Michael Manzo

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Michael Manzo
Born
Penn State
Political partyDemocratic Party
SpouseShannon Manzo (????–????)

Michael L. "Mike" Manzo is a former

H. William DeWeese. He served as a staffer for the Democratic Caucus in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
for over 10 years, rising to become one of the most powerful staffers in the state capitol. Manzo controlled the policy and communications efforts for the House Democratic Caucus and helped engineer the passage of a wide range of bills.

In 2007, he was fired by DeWeese and subsequently charged for allegedly using taxpayer money for illegal campaign purposes and creating a no-work job for his mistress. In his testimony for the prosecution at a preliminary hearing, he implicated his former boss, DeWeese, in the alleged scheme.

Personal life

Manzo was born in

U.S. Airways.[2]

Political career

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

With a recommendation from fellow

H. William DeWeese.[3] In this position, he successfully re-designed and modernized the caucus' media strategy.[3]

In 2001, Manzo became DeWeese's

PoliticsPA.com, who name Manzo one of the "smartest staffers" in the Pennsylvania Capitol, describing him as having earned an "honorary Masters from the State Rep. Bud George school of politics."[4] Pundits commented that his job description included providing frequent "DeWeese-to-English translations" for his boss' famously verbose speaking style.[5] In 2002, he was named to the PoliticsPA list of "Rising Stars" in Pennsylvania politics.[6]

Firing

Manzo and six other Democratic staffers were fired on November 13, 2007, after the release of emails pertaining to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's investigation into illegal legislative bonuses paid for campaign work. Manzo denied any wrongdoing and said that he resigned to avoid becoming a distraction for the Democratic caucus.[7]

Triad Strategies

By the end of November 2007, Manzo was hired as a senior relations consultant for Triad Strategies, a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based lobbying and public relations firm.[3] Anthony May, a senior vice president at Triad, expressed no concern about hiring Manzo in the midst of the legislative bonus controversy, saying, "We always had hoped Mike would come to work for us."[8]

Legal issues

Grand jury investigation

On July 10, 2008, Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett announced that his office was filing charges against Manzo and 11 other current and former Democratic staff members relating to the legislative bonus controversy. Manzo faces nine counts each of conflict of interest, theft by unlawful taking or disposition, theft by deception, theft of services, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, and two counts of criminal conspiracy.[9] The charges carry a maximum penalty of 311 years in prison and $660,000 in fines.[9]

The

2006 election totaled $1,285,250.[9]

The grand jury also found that Manzo and fellow staffer Brett Cott used the employees and resources of the House Democratic Caucus to mount petition challenges against opponents of the House Democratic Caucus and the Democratic Party.

legislative intern with whom he allegedly had a "long-running sexual liaison" from 2004 through November 2007.[9] The office was located above Bloom Cigar Company, an iconic cigar store in Pittsburgh's South Side neighborhood owned by a friend of Mike Veon.[9]

Testimony in preliminary hearing

Manzo waived his right to a

Democratic nominee for Attorney General in 2004, said that Manzo will plead guilty to the "most serious charges against him" and will make his cooperation known to the sentencing judge.[13][14] The trial of the 12 defendants is expected to begin in January 2009.[15]

See also

  • H. William DeWeese
  • Bonusgate

References

  1. ^ Bumstead, Brad (2007-11-29). "Public relations firm hires former DeWeese staffer". Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Retrieved 2008-10-20.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b c d e Roddy, Dennis (2008-07-10). "Pennsylvania bonus scandal: Michael Manzo, high-level aide". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Triad Strategies - Michael Manzo". Triad Strategies. 2007. Archived from the original on 2008-02-06. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  4. ^ "The Brain Gain". Pennsylvania's Smartest Staffers and Operatives. PoliticsPA. 2004. Archived from the original on 2003-10-20. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  5. ^ Lieberman, Brett (2007-10-07). "All's good, according to Bill DeWeese". Pennsyltucky Politics Blog. The Patriot-News. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  6. ^ "PoliticsPA Rising Stars". PoliticsPA. The Publius Group. 2001. Archived from the original on 2002-12-05.
  7. ^ Levy, Mark (2007-11-14). "7 senior Pa. House Democratic staffers out of jobs in shake-up". phillyBurbs.com. Calkins Media Incorporated. Archived from the original on 2008-02-03. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  8. ^ Bumsted, Brad (2007-11-28). "Ex-DeWeese staffer Manzo hired by lobbying firm". Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Trib Total Media. Retrieved 2008-10-20.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Attorney General Corbett announces charges in legislative bonus investigation" (Press release). Pennsylvania Attorney General. 2008-07-10. Archived from the original on 2008-10-18. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  10. ^ "Former DeWeese aide waives Bonusgate hearing". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. The Associated Press. 2008-10-04. Archived from the original on 2013-02-01. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  11. ^
    Dennis B. Roddy (2008-10-09). "Ex-aide implicates DeWeese on bonuses"
    . Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  12. ^ DeWeese, Bill (2008-10-08). "Statement from Bill DeWeese on comments by former aide". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  13. ^ Micek, John (2008-10-09). "DeWeese knew about illegal bonuses, House leader's former aide testifies". Allentown Morning Call. Retrieved 2008-10-20.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "Our People: James J. Eisenhower". Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP. 2008. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  15. ^ Thompson, Charlie (2008-10-17). "Grand jury hears ex-DeWeese aide". The Patriot-News. Archived from the original on 2011-05-21. Retrieved 2008-10-20.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Manzo&oldid=1114207301"