What Morning Call Sources Say
From The Morning Call story, we know that they are relying on anonymous sources (that's plural). I have just one. Their sources say that Fleck recorded meetings with his customers and with Mayor Edwin Pawlowski.
What My Source Says
- Fleck was wired for 90 days.
- He recorded conversations for at least 30 fund raisers and over 100 meetings.
- They have many hours of taped conversation.
- They know where he is in Georgia, and it's within spitting distance of a field office.
They are shaking the trees to see if any ripe apples fall.
This also tells me three things about their case. First, it is very much a pay-to-play investigation, and is looking into Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski and Reading Mayor Spencer Vaughn. Second, the FBI insisted that Fleck wear a wire because recordings will corroborate what he says when he testifies. Finally, by using a bad guy to get other bad guys, they are possibly setting up a defense of entrapment for some targets.
The Ruchlewicz connection
I also learned yesterday that in April, feds were visiting neighbors of Sam Ruchlewicz, a Fleck partner at his business consulting firm. His Twitter account states, "Government, Politics, Business -- They all meet with me."
That might be one of his problems.
You see, in addition to acting as a political consultant for candidates seeking elected office, Fleck also acted as a "consultant" for private businesses seeking an inside track with the very people that Fleck would help elect.
Though there is no law barring this practice, Common Cause Pa Exec Director Barry Kauffman warned that it invites mischief.
"What you have to be cautious about, in this case the campaign manager is obviously a very influential person. ... The mayor needs to be cautious the campaign manager doesn't try to influence public policy decisions and serve as a conduit for major businesses who end up being campaign donors."Fleck told The Morning Call that he keeps his business and political consulting in two different worlds, a point that was confirmed by Mayor Edwin Pawlowski.
But a campaign finance report filed by the Citizens For a Greater Reading PAC.tells a completely different story.
First, it was filed by Ruchlewicz, who was supposed to be in the business, and not political, consulting world.
Second, the $33,260 in contributions include people with no connection to Reading. Why would Sean Kilkenny, who is running for Sheriff in Montgomery County, donate $5,000 to a reading-based PAC? Why would Abe Atiyeh, who had hired Fleck and Ruchlewicz as business consultants, donate $2,000 to a reading PAC?
Third, business consultant Ruchlewicz walked away with $1,200. Fleck's H Street Strategies' take was $10,000, nearly a third of the money contributed.
Major businesses with City and NIZ contracts have been big campaign contributors. J.B. Reilly, Sean Boyle and Abe Atiyeh bankrolled a Pawlowski and Fleck inspired effort to get rid of Mayor Ed Hozza in Allentown,
The business and political consulting obviously merged.
77 comments:
If Molovinsky is your editor on stories to run with sources or not...your compass is very broken.
An anonymous troll is no authority on a moral compass.
I'd like to thank you and MM for your fine work and your ability to consistently scoop the MCall
and other media.
Well done gentlemen.
Boy, they really hate it, and you, when you're right.
Congratulations on a job well done.
12:47AM - please take some medication and go to bed.
This is all fascinating. This Ruchlewicz was Fleck's right hand man. He was joined at the hip with McNeil in his run for the state house first time and most say since. The guy was said to have "handled" everything. he was with Fleck early on.
The entire episode will play out. Feck was mentored by Hickey, Ruchlewicz was mentored by Fleck. Who else is lurking out there?
Who are all the players? Will some of the "I know nothing" crowd like Muller, Cunningham and Iannelli be involved. This is like a Lehigh Valley soap opera.
Wasn't there another political consultant form this area that went to jail some years back?
Bernie, you have provided stellar coverage on this topic for a long time. As far as this whole mess is concerned, I could care less about the soap opera qualities of this saga. I do care about what it all means for residents of the city and the region. It is increasingly clear to me we have not been fairly represented by our elected officials for quite some time now. What will happen if this ends up meeting the criteria for honest service fraud? I reflect back and wonder how votes like the water privatization deal would have ended up had this increasingly clear "pay to play" dynamic played out for the benefit of a few at the expense of the masses.
Do we have any recourse as citizens? What is the likelihood that as a result of all this crap that we end up with transparent and accountable local government? To quote an old movie, Network "I am mad as Hell and I am not going to take it anymore".
Interesting post. Thank you for informing us of what may be happening.
I wonder if Ed was taught all this at the Moody Bible Institute ?
Why would someone like McNeil need a sleaze ball consultant when there are maybe 3 r's in his district?
Wanted to use Fleck in his vendetta against Hozza
If I were Fleck, I too would move out of the area. He has to be a marked man. To carry a wire for all these months, He isn't hiding from the media. He is in a witness protection program.
Wasn't there another political consultant form this area that went to jail some years back?
Yes. Michael Solomon who was a former top adviser to Northampton County Executive Glenn Reibman.
Like the Walls of Jericho, or Lehigh Parkway, it all comes a tumblin' down.
This is beginning to sound a bit RICO-ish.
Is there a flow chart with how everybody is tied together in this?
Great movie plot. Who will be cast as the King ??
Nary a mention to Topper, the super rich guy, in all of this.
Danny Davito will reprise his Penguin character to portray Mayor Pawlowski. Dead-on ringer.
Fleck is a snake in the grass. Pawlowski is a fool for trusting that scum bag. Now he will pay the price.
Nick Nolty as the Fleckster.....
Wow... This thing keeps getting deeper and deeper. I agree with your thought, the FBI is managing this to see what else happens and what else is learned. I wonder if anyone else has reached out to them to potentially cooperate?
The Banker
Edwin & Michael were perfect dance partners.
There are no victims here.
it never ceases to amaze me what a near bankrupt media outlet will do to boost sales...their "sources " are unnamed, as are yours, but we cant expect ethical reporting from such an unsuccessful, miserable little man
this gaggle of show clowns have nothing better to do then make things up as they go along.....
Just researched some pay to play convictions and the sentences ranged from 10 - 21 years. Good luck!!
The Mcall is trying to save face from all of the fluff pieces they ran. Bernie is a true journalist and reports facts not fluff. Good job bernie
it never ceases to amaze me what a near bankrupt media outlet will do to boost sales...their "sources " are unnamed, as are yours, but we cant expect ethical reporting from such an unsuccessful, miserable little man 9:37 AM
It never ceases to amaze me the effort you go to to try to disparage a reporter. Someone peed in your vodka again? Spend you day off resting your feet and doing something useful - like learning how to use apostrophes.
Wired for 90 days. So the thought that he was originally bagged around St. Patrick's day (Long before the Primary) seems about right. I believe that is also before Ed P announced his Senate campaign. Be interesting to find out if Feds encouraged Mr Fleck to urge the Mayor on. We really need a flow chart to figure it all out, but you can pretty much see that the flow was basically the people of Allentown getting a golden Shower.
Anon "Wasn't there another political consultant form this area that went to jail some years back?"
4:20 AM
Answer - Mike Solomon
Those Mayors are shaking in their boots.
FBI is ratcheting up the pressure by seeing who's going to sweat and come in and chat to make a deal. It's classic prisoners dilemma strategy.
It's like an APB to everyone and every company on that subpoena list.
That subpoena list is a start by the way. New evidence will generate an additional list. It's not like the FBI can't come back to Allentown. For that reason it's naive of outlets like the Morning Call and some already being investigated to suggest the NIZ and its board members aren't part of it.
The federal government hasn't gotten to that point.
Pawlowski endorsed McNeill. McNeill and Palagonia endorsed Pawlowski. Pawlowski, McNeill, and Palagonia endorsed McCord (we know how that ended). Pawlowski and McNeill endorse Palagonia during the Whitehall takeover attempt. Hozza would not march to Pawlowski's tune so he needed a yes man in Whitehall.
I wonder how the PLA is tied into this?
Subpoena:
http://www.wfmz.com/blob/view/-/34155852/data/3/-/fv0blsz/-/Allentown-FBI-Right-to-Know.pdf
Lehigh Valley Rats List:
Mike Fleck
If the Lehigh Valley ever gets a legitimate local newspaper operation again, it should hire Bernie. This is the kind of reporting people are always willing to pay for.
A couple of young state reps. are going to be looking for work.
Interesting to note that it says on the subpeonia:
Grand Jury No: 2013-00517
So would this investigation been under way for well over a year?
Northeast Revenue has the Lehigh County delinquent tax business as of this year.
A couple of young state reps will be working in the laundry at Club Fed.
The "M" stands for "Memorex"
I've done a little time with guys who did fed time. They said they would rather do a state sentence over a federal sentence any day. They can ship you all over the country if they need warm bodies somewhere. Have fun guys and remember to keep your butt checks tight
@7:13
Highly doubt Fleck is in Witness Protection. If he were, no law enforcement source would be revealing that he's within spitting distance of an FBI Field Office in Georgia. And if he were in Witness Protection, Fleck would likely have to move after such a revelation.
No, 9:30 AM Will Farrell has to be cast as the Fleckster. A clown must portray a clown.
Former Harrisburg Mayor just got blasted with corruption charges today. Reading, PA Mayor likely to be caught on something through Fleck. Pawlowski sweating profusely, no doubt.
Magnify this across the entire country, and this could be good news for elevating the reputation of used car salesmen.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. IF Pawlowski is charged and/or is forced to resign, then I think Affa, Glazier, Koval, Mathison, Thiel and Martinez should all pull out of the City Council/City Controller/ASD elections since their campaigns were managed and financed through Fleck & Pawlowski. They would owe it to the residents to Allentown to have a controversy free election in the Fall. This way, Allentown can move forward anew without elected officials tied to the Pawlowski Era.
Then theres the pawlowski/fleck endorsed candidates for city council and school board. I am sure theres some interesting tidbits on tape involving them. Hope the FBI will inform the public so as not to make a mockery of the general election.
12;57 pm -
Don't forget that Fleck/Pawlowski/Muller were also trying to do the same with the Lehigh commissioner election as well.
I wonder how high up the food chain this thing will go? Does the FBI squeez Fed Ed to the point they get JB Reilly and Browne. This NIZ has been the biggest transfer of wealth from the public to private sector in the history of PA. Who knew what and when has always been a source of great speculation here in the Valley and something that sadly the Mcall has never really tried to get the answer to. Something tells be the FBI if they choose to will be more successful. The Big Welfare Momma JB should have to answer the question of why his brother in law with no money bought up real estate in downtown knowing the NIZ was coming. He was obviously tipped off by his childhood friend Sen Browne and then JB hires Browne"s wife and pays her a small fortune to "lobby". Seems like a logical next step for a closer look from the FBI.
At least the Whitehall voters took care of the Pawlowski/Fleck problem in their back yard.
City Council needs to begin its own investigation into the "contracting process" tomorrow night.
What they do and say on Wednesday night (or don't do and say on Wednesday) will speak volumes about whether members of council are also involved in everything that's been going on.
They need to rise above their own cronyism and put the good of city residents ahead of their own self-interests. City residents deserve to know what's going on, and they deserve to know that Council will fix the problem.
They shouldn't wait for the FBI to do their job for them.
Council will mimic the same little song and dance Edwin performed at the pizza shop grand opening.
Count on it.
The subpoena makes a blanket request for records of everyone having an office inside certain parts of City Hall since 2005. This clearly includes plenty of communication with ANIZDA members. If the FBI is at all interested in Allentown's recent "progress," many leads are at their disposal. So, how careful were certain members of the NIZ Board? Some hope the answer is VERY.
You expect solutions from THIS city council?
This is how politics have been played throughout the Valley for the past ten years. All consultants and contracts. Add to threat the "players" in the quasi-governmental roles and their ties. Incest anyone?
Is there a flow chart with how everybody is tied together in this?
Sure there is. The FBI has it pinned to a very large wall, with pictures of the players along each path.
Wonder if the boys in Northampton Country are lawyering up yet?
Get Panto. The Mulligan stuff is likely just as dirty.
Will Don have to cover his own attorneys fees?
Remember when the heartless townships and boroughs recoiled at the thought of funding this scheme? Fed Ed and Sal Panto were furious.
Over at the Express online, they published the subpoena. Hickey and his firm are being sought, too. HAAAA!
Fleck's Easton shenanigans are likely time barred unless someone was silly enough to work with him in the last few years. We should know more when the indictments are unsealed in a few days/weeks
It's in the hallway, their largest wall ran out of room. But hey, at least he didnt buy a stuffed buffalo.
This council has nothing to say. it was schweyer and schlossberg who were probably getting campaign money to vote for the incinerator and the water deals. then they just moved on. thank god the incinerator didnt go thru and bankrupt Allentown like it did in Harrisburg. but they tried.
I cannot allow the kind of anonymous personal attack I just deleted. Make your points without them, please.
It is a shame that Jim Gregory was the victim of a political witch hunt. He was one of the best political consultants in the area. His ground game was awesome. When he returns he will be King of the pol's.
If nothing else, Jim can advise a few local operators what to expect of federal prison should they receive an invitation.
Hopefully somebody investigates how a NHCounty employee obtains a dead womans house.
Free Greggy!
Bernie, do you think it's possible that the FBI will be raiding other towns/municipalities in our area?
Also, I wanted to say KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! Your reporting is terrific. I really appreciate all that you do in bringing things to light!!! WE NEED YOU because our local papers have really fallen down on the job.
Good work Bernie
Bernie, you think Mayor resigns?
The first thing that happens when you walk into a prison population is you have to show your papers. If you harmed a child, women, are a convicted rapist or a snitch your life will be in danger. You might get a shorter sentence but it could make life very difficult in the long run.
I was wondering if FBI will be dropping by Pat Browne's office or house. He got a boatload of cash from the same suspects.
Hey Bernie I think the fbi should be looking at another government agency like the district attorney office fundraising money for one of there own running for sherrif office plus into McNeil and Jerry paligonia and the syrian American club in allentown that gets funds from these guys so they could get something in return mayor ed gave alot of money from city funds Bernie do your research
http://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2012/02/flecks-2011-consulting-fees-at-least.html
Mike "the Fleckster" Fleck
I was on the inside.
Bethlehem is worse then Allentown.
Follow Hickeys key relationships.
Peel the Onion.
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