Latest news with #StateEthicsCommission
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
State Ethics Commission reaches settlement with Cuba mayor to resolve misconduct claim
May 30—SANTA FE — The State Ethics Commission has entered into a settlement agreement with a northern New Mexico mayor accused of benefitting from a directive that required village-owned vehicles to be refueled at a gas station he owns. The settlement agreement between the commission and Cuba Mayor Denny Herrera entered into this week avoids potential legal action by resolving all claims in the dispute. While not acknowledging any wrongdoing, Herrera agreed to pay $2,500 to the state and an additional $1,000 to the village of Cuba. After an investigation prompted by an online complaint, the Ethics Commission found reason to believe Herrera improperly benefited from a village directive that required employees to only use the convenience store he owns to refuel their government vehicles. The state Governmental Conduct Act specifically prohibits public officers from selling, or offering to sell, goods or services through businesses they own to employees under their supervision. While that law provides for both criminal and civil penalties, the State Ethics Commission does not have the authority to file criminal charges, said the commission's deputy director Amelia Bierle. Cases in which such charges could be filed are typically referred to district attorneys or Attorney General Raúl Torrez's office for review, she added. As part of the settlement agreement, Herrera informed Cuba in writing about his ownership of the gas station. He also clarified that village employees can gas up their work cars at any establishment that accepts special government debit cards. The settlement agreement did not specify how many such gas stations are located in Cuba, which had a population of 628 people as of 2020, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Herrera became Cuba's mayor after winning a three-way race in March 2022 with more than two-thirds of the 234 votes cast. He could not immediately be reached for comment Friday, and his attorney in the settlement agreement, Tom Hnasko, said he was not available to discuss its terms.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
State Ethics Commission reaches settlement with Cuba mayor to resolve misconduct claim
May 30—SANTA FE — The State Ethics Commission has entered into a settlement agreement with a northern New Mexico mayor accused of benefitting from a directive that required village-owned vehicles to be refueled at a gas station he owns. The settlement agreement between the commission and Cuba Mayor Denny Herrera entered into this week avoids potential legal action by resolving all claims in the dispute. While not acknowledging any wrongdoing, Herrera agreed to pay $2,500 to the state and an additional $1,000 to the village of Cuba. After an investigation prompted by an online complaint, the Ethics Commission found reason to believe Herrera improperly benefited from a village directive that required employees to only use the convenience store he owns to refuel their government vehicles. The state Governmental Conduct Act specifically prohibits public officers from selling, or offering to sell, goods or services through businesses they own to employees under their supervision. While that law provides for both criminal and civil penalties, the State Ethics Commission does not have the authority to file criminal charges, said the commission's deputy director Amelia Bierle. Cases in which such charges could be filed are typically referred to district attorneys or Attorney General Raúl Torrez's office for review, she added. As part of the settlement agreement, Herrera informed Cuba in writing about his ownership of the gas station. He also clarified that village employees can gas up their work cars at any establishment that accepts special government debit cards. The settlement agreement did not specify how many such gas stations are located in Cuba, which had a population of 628 people as of 2020, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Herrera became Cuba's mayor after winning a three-way race in March 2022 with more than two-thirds of the 234 votes cast. He could not immediately be reached for comment Friday, and his attorney in the settlement agreement, Tom Hnasko, said he was not available to discuss its terms.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Top Pennsylvania lawmakers took $119K in gifts, trips, and more from those seeking to influence them in 2024
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Top Pennsylvania politicians accepted roughly $119,000 in gifts and hospitality from groups seeking to influence government last year, including several pricey trips to Israel and Taiwan. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now State law places no limits on what lobbyists and other interested parties can give to commonwealth employees or holders of public office. The only requirement is that they report any gift worth more than $250, and any travel, meals, and lodging worth more than $650, on annual forms they file with the State Ethics Commission. Public officials are supposed to decline gifts if accepting them will influence their votes or positions. Under both legislative chambers' ethics rules, state lawmakers are also barred from accepting cash gifts from a lobbyist or anyone else seeking a specific legislative outcome. However, there aren't many ways to enforce these rules, and there's a loophole that leads to underreporting. Generally, lawmakers police themselves. Spotlight PA reviewed the 2024 disclosures of 35 top Pennsylvania officials: state House and Senate leaders from both parties, the governor, lieutenant governor, and the commonwealth's three row officers. Of the gifts and hospitality that top lawmakers reported accepting, roughly 30% covered travel abroad by three people. State House Majority Leader Matt Bradford (D., Montgomery), among the most powerful policymakers in the divided state Capitol, received a weeklong trip to Israel in December from the American Israel Education Foundation, which he said on his ethics report was worth $14,700. The foundation is a charitable affiliate of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a lobby that advocates for U.S. support for Israel, and is the biggest private sponsor of congressional travel, according to Politico. Critics of U.S. support for the country argue these trips help build a pro-Israeli consensus even as the nation's assault on Gaza has killed more than 50,000 people. A spokesperson for Bradford confirmed the trip, but otherwise did not offer any comment. Marshall Wittmann, a spokesperson for AIPAC, said the itinerary included 'meeting with Israeli political leaders from the government and opposition, briefings with regional experts, and visits to Israel's borders.' The trips, Wittmann added, 'help educate American political leaders about the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship through firsthand experiences in Israel.' State Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R., Washington), who serves as caucus secretary, and state Rep. Tim O'Neal (R., Washington), who is his caucus' whip, also accepted trips. The two traveled to Taiwan on the dime of the country's government through its New York City consulate. Hospitality costs for both of them came to a combined $21,000. In a statement, O'Neal told Spotlight PA he was invited and traveled to Taiwan in December 2024 'as part of a working group of state legislators from the United States, as other legislators have done in past years.' While there, he said he 'met with various government and business officials and worked to build upon the already strong relations between Pennsylvania and Taiwan.' He added that he has already 'helped initiate a conversation between a Pennsylvanian business and one in Taiwan that may lead to a mutually beneficial economic relationship.' Bartolotta confirmed the trip, saying it allowed her to learn about a top American trade partner without costing Pennsylvania taxpayers. 'It's good to have good relationships everywhere,' she said, adding, 'I don't think my taxpayers have to worry about Taiwanese taxpayer money being used.' The Taiwanese government is a frequent sponsor of state legislators' travel. Over the years, it's paid tens of thousands of dollars to bring Democrats and Republicans to the island nation east of mainland China. At least four lawmakers, for instance, went in 2023. The organizers of both the Taiwan and Israel trips declined to provide a full list of attendees. Richard Briffault, a professor at Columbia University and expert in government ethics policies, said Pennsylvania's lack of gift caps, coupled with a relatively high reporting requirement, makes it 'obviously, not much of a restriction.' 'The best practice, really, is to prohibit [gift giving to lawmakers], or to prohibit it other than de minimis gifts along the lines of … $25, $50, $100,' he told Spotlight PA. Briffault added that foreign governments have an agenda when they underwrite lawmakers' travel. 'A place like Taiwan is very interested in having good relations with the United States generally,' he said. 'This is a kind of long-term, deep strategy, cultivating people at the state and local level, as part of a general strategy of having influence in the United States.' Top officials reported another $21,000 in travel paid for by an array of interest groups, including national associations for lobbyists and school choice advocates, as well as multiple political organizations. Other legislative leaders accepted money from unions, utilities, and insurers, primarily to pay for constituent events. State Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D., Philadelphia), for instance, accepted a combined $20,000 from 19 different businesses, organizations, and individuals to finance community events hosted by her office. Among the sponsors were UFCW Local 1776, electric utility PECO, and a Harrisburg lobby shop. A spokesperson for Tartaglione said this money goes toward four community picnics that she throws for schoolchildren in her district every summer, and four senior expos she holds in the fall. The office uses the money, the spokesperson said, to buy things like backpacks and school supplies that are given out at the events. State House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D., Philadelphia) and Appropriations Committee Chair Jordan Harris (D., Philadelphia) reported, respectively, $23,500 and $15,200 worth of gifts and hospitality. As with Tartaglione, much was used to pay for constituent services or events. McClinton accepted $13,500 combined from Highmark, a Pittsburgh-based insurer and hospital chain, and PECO to host three community events. She also reported $2,500 from the Philadelphia Zoo and $2,000 from the city of Philadelphia. A spokesperson didn't clarify what those expenses were for. The zoo often pays for constituent visits, and the city has a box to which it gives away tickets at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles. McClinton filmed herself attending an Eagles game with multiple elected colleagues in a box last year; a spokesperson did not say how the tickets were paid for at the time. Several of the Philadelphia lawmakers in leadership tended to have higher gift totals, but most of those gifts were routed toward constituents. Christina Fonseca, a spokesperson for Harris, said his goal with this spending is to give constituents opportunities they wouldn't otherwise get. 'There's an abundance of riches and arts in the city, but lower-income people are often locked out of these opportunities,' Fonseca said. 'So part of the reason we put gifts toward constituents is to open the doors to these institutions.' Harris accepted $4,600 from the Philadelphia Zoo for what a spokesperson said was an educational event for constituent children and families, as well as $3,000 in concert tickets for constituents and at least $600 in Eagles tickets from the Philadelphia city government. Fonseca said Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker invited Harris to the football game, and that while he was there he also met with Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey — a former state House colleague — as part of Harris' pet effort to convince the NFL to have the Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers play each other more often. Harris also reported that a lobbyist, a political operative, and a grocery store all gave him gifts to help with funeral costs after his wife's death last year. Fonseca noted that while the givers do work in politics, they're also longtime close friends of Harris and his family, and the money went directly to the funeral home. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro again reported that Team PA, a nonprofit that doesn't have to disclose its donors and also holds state contracts, funded some of his travel. Last year's amount was $900. He reported $12,000 in 2023, including a trip to that year's Super Bowl. Shapiro has a gift ban in place for his administration, but his office has told Spotlight PA in the past that he doesn't believe it covers Team PA. The nonprofit has a long history of close work with Pennsylvania governors, and a spokesperson previously called it 'completely incomparable to a private actor.' Shapiro's spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. The numbers disclosed on legislators' ethics forms are likely only a portion of the total gifts and travel paid for by special interests. Lawmakers add items to their reports only when a lobbyist tells them that a gift or trip is over the reporting threshold. In 2019, a state House committee issued a report that found lobbyists routinely spread gift costs among their legislative clients, which keeps the cost below the threshold. That means what shows up, and what doesn't, is a matter of self-policing between lawmakers and lobbyists, state Rep. Seth Grove (R., York), who chaired the committee at the time, told Spotlight PA — 'not that there are dishonest people in the world,' he joked. He called on the legislature to pass a new standard that would require reporting as soon as a lobbyist spends a single dollar on a meal, trip, or gift for any legislator. If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Former South Carolina clerk in Murdaugh murder trial arrested on multiple felonies
South Carolina authorities on Wednesday morning charged Becky Hill, the former Colleton County court clerk who presided over the Alex Murdaugh murder trial, with multiple felonies. The State Ethics Commission last year accused Hill, 57, of using her official position as Colleton County clerk for financial gain, specifically to promote her book about the Murdaugh case, part of which she admitted to and apologized for plagiarizing. While her charges are not specified, the Colleton County website states that Hill is also under a "hold for South Carolina Law Enforcement Division." "We are aware of the charges filed against Becky Hill, and while these developments are serious, they are not surprising," Dick Harpootlian, Murdaugh's defense attorney, told Fox News Digital in a statement. "We have long raised our concerns about her conduct during and after the trial and this arrest further underscores the need to protect the integrity of the judicial process. Every defendant is entitled to a fair and impartial trial and we look forward to Alex Murdaugh finally getting that fair treatment." South Carolina Judge Denies Alex Murdaugh's Request For A New Murder Trial Hill was previously accused of sending herself nearly $10,000 in federal bonuses in the form of child support payments, according to a notice of hearing. She used federal funds to give food and gifts to court employees, including "Easter Goodies," Mother's and Father's Day gifts, and Valentine's Day gifts; paint supplies; flowers and decor; various meals for herself; office furniture; dog food, dog bones and a dog bed, among other items. Read On The Fox News App South Carolina Supreme Court Justice Jean Toal ruled in January 2024 that a new trial was not necessary for Murdaugh, who was convicted in the June 2021 murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, on his family hunting estate. Murdaugh requested a new hearing based on allegations of jury tampering surrounding Hill, which Murdaugh's defense team had argued warranted a new trial. Of 12 total jurors who found Murdaugh guilty in 2023, 11 said Hill did not influence their decisions. One said he heard the clerk make comments about watching Murdaugh's body language but said her words did not influence his verdict. Hill is reportedly set to be indicted for perjury, according to The State newspaper. South Carolina attorney Eric Bland, who represented several victims of Murdaugh's financial crimes, said he "used to think that there was very little chance that our South Carolina Supreme Court would reverse former Chief Justice Jean Toal's decision in February 2024 when she denied Alex Murdaugh a new trial on his double murder conviction because of Becky Hill alleged jury interference." Alex Murdaugh Court Clerk Becky Hill Misused Thousands Of Dollars On Paint Supplies, Dog Bed, Gifts: Complaint "I thought that if he was to get any relief, it would come after he exhausted his state court appeals and it would be on the federal level," Bland said in a Wednesday post on X. "According to the State Paper, the perjury charge arises out of her testimony that she gave in the February 2024 hearing in front of Justice Toal. I think this further complicates the situation and increases the chances that he will get a reversal and a new trial. It still will come down to whether the federal standard for alleged jury tampering should have been applied by Justice Toal or she was correct in applying the state standard." Myra Crosby, a dismissed juror in the Murdaugh murder trial, also known as the "egg juror" after she apparently asked to collected a dozen eggs from the jury room before leaving, told Fox News her belief that "Hill finally being held accountable for the atrocities she did during this trial is a good start." "I am hopeful but not confident that the State will do the right thing," she said in a Wednesday statement. "If the state believes in their case they should not have a problem giving alex murdaugh another trial. One where they don't have a tainted verdict. I would think that a 6th amendment being upheld would be more important than protecting a verdict. It remains to be seen as to what will happen but I am praying that I can have a justice system that I can believe in again rather than a corrupt good ol boy system." She further suggested that juries on future cases be sequestered and instructed not to speak with anyone, including court officials like Hill. "Not everyone has been a juror and, when questioned by a court official, knows that it is wrong. I certainly didn't," she said. The former court clerk, who held her position for about four years, resigned in March following allegations of jury tampering in the Murdaugh trial but maintained that her decision to leave office was not the result of her conduct during the double murder trial. Alex Murdaugh Court Clerk Becky Hill Resigns After Allegations Of Jury Tampering "Another significant impact in our clerk's office was in 2023, when we had to manage one of the biggest trials in South Carolina history. Our small town came together and made everyone proud," Hill said during a news conference at the time to announce her resignation. "Managing a trial with such importance to the people of South Carolina, as well as to the national and international media interest and public scrutiny, has caused me to reflect upon decisions involving my stay in the office of the clerk of court." She added that her decision not to seek re-election in 2024 would allow her to "focus on being a wife, a mother and a grandmother," and that she wants to provide "ample time to other Republican candidates" interested in the position of Colleton County court clerk. Her former attorney, Justin Bamberg, who has represented victims of Murdaugh's financial crimes, said at a March news conference that Hill's decision had nothing to do with any pending investigations involving the clerk. Fox News' Kelly Skehen contributed to this article source: Former South Carolina clerk in Murdaugh murder trial arrested on multiple felonies
Fox News
14-05-2025
- Fox News
Former South Carolina clerk in Murdaugh murder trial arrested on multiple felonies
South Carolina authorities on Wednesday morning charged Becky Hill, the former Colleton County court clerk who presided over the Alex Murdaugh murder trial, with multiple felonies. The State Ethics Commission last year accused Hill, 57, of using her official position as Colleton County clerk for financial gain, specifically to promote her book about the Murdaugh case, part of which she admitted to and apologized for plagiarizing. While her charges are not specified, the Colleton County website states that Hill is also under a "hold for South Carolina Law Enforcement Division." "We are aware of the charges filed against Becky Hill, and while these developments are serious, they are not surprising," Dick Harpootlian, Murdaugh's defense attorney, told Fox News Digital in a statement. "We have long raised our concerns about her conduct during and after the trial and this arrest further underscores the need to protect the integrity of the judicial process. Every defendant is entitled to a fair and impartial trial and we look forward to Alex Murdaugh finally getting that fair treatment." Hill was previously accused of sending herself nearly $10,000 in federal bonuses in the form of child support payments, according to a notice of hearing. She used federal funds to give food and gifts to court employees, including "Easter Goodies," Mother's Day gifts, Father's Day gifts and Valentine's Day gifts; paint supplies; flowers and decor; various meals for herself; office furniture; dog food, dog bones and a dog bed, among other items. South Carolina Supreme Court Justice Jean Toal ruled in January 2024 that a new trial was not necessary for Murdaugh, who was convicted in the June 2021 murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, on his family hunting estate. Murdaugh requested a new hearing based on allegations of jury tampering surrounding Hill, which Murdaugh's defense team had argued warranted a new trial. Of 12 total jurors who found Murdaugh guilty in 2023, 11 said Hill did not influence their decisions. One said he heard the clerk make comments about watching Murdaugh's body language but said her words did not influence his verdict. Hill is reportedly set to be indicted for perjury, according to The State newspaper. South Carolina attorney Eric Bland, who represented several victims of Murdaugh's financial crimes, said he "used to think that there was very little chance that our South Carolina Supreme Court would reverse former Chief Justice Jean Toal's decision in February 2024 when she denied Alex Murdaugh a new trial on his double murder conviction because of Becky Hill alleged jury interference." "I thought that if he was to get any relief, it would come after he exhausted his state court appeals and it would be on the federal level," Bland said in a Wednesday post on X. "According to the State Paper, the perjury charge arises out of her testimony that she gave in the February 2024 hearing in front of Justice Toal. I think this further complicates the situation and increases the chances that he will get a reversal and a new trial. It still will come down to whether the federal standard for alleged jury tampering should have been applied by Justice Toal or she was correct in applying the state standard." The former court clerk, who held her position for about four years, resigned in March following allegations of jury tampering in the Murdaugh trial but maintained that her decision to leave office was not the result of her conduct during the double murder trial. "Another significant impact in our clerk's office was in 2023, when we had to manage one of the biggest trials in South Carolina history. Our small town came together and made everyone proud," Hill said during a news conference at the time to announce her resignation. "Managing a trial with such importance to the people of South Carolina, as well as to the national and international media interest and public scrutiny, has caused me to reflect upon decisions involving my stay in the office of the clerk of court." She added that her decision not to seek re-election in 2024 would allow her to "focus on being a wife, a mother and a grandmother," and that she wants to provide "ample time to other Republican candidates" interested in the position of Colleton County Court Clerk. Her former attorney, Justin Bamberg, who has represented victims of Murdaugh's financial crimes, said at a March news conference that Hill's decision had nothing to do with any pending investigations involving the clerk.
