Congressional Candidate Bob Brooks Actually Received $30k in COVID Relief Funds and Falsely Denied Existence of Wiley Judgment

Late last week, I told you that The Free Beacon, an admittedly conservative website, posted a story suggesting that Bob Brooks, the Democratic nominee for the Pa. 07 Congressional seat held by Ryan Mackenzie, lied on his application for a $15,000 COVID relief grant. This was funded by the federal funds and administered by Northampton County as part of its attempt to help small businesses during the pandemic. 

Some of you downplayed the matter. "Where's the actual application?" asked one reader. "Produce the application or it's not true. Civil judgments did not preclude applicants from receiving COVID funds. There's no evidence of wrongdoing here."

Yesterday, NorCo GOP party chair Glenn Geissinger conducted a news conference outside the courthouse and brought the receipts. Due to a prior commitment, I was unable to attend. But Kevin Danyi, a prominent Bethlehem attorney, brought all the documents. 

Geissinger is asking both Northampton County DA Steve Baratta and US Attorney David Metcalf (Eastern District Pa.) to open investigations.

From Geissinger's letter, I have learned the following: 

1) Brooks actually sought and obtained two COVID relief grants for $15,000 in November 2020 and September 2021. He received $30,000 from a fund administered by Northampton County. 

2) Instructions included with both applications warned that false statements could result in criminal prosecution under federal law. Pennsylvania law also makes it a crime to make false statements to authorities. 

3) In the September 2021 application, Brooks was specifically asked, " Did you or anyone with an ownership interest in the business have any judgments against you?" Brooks answered "No."

4) At the time of this application, Brooks was a judgment debtor. In Wiley v. Brooks (2018-2005), a $130,386.36 judgment was entered against Brooks on November 19, 2020. That judgment was open of record, i.e. unpaid, at the time of his application. 

5) On both applications, Brooks was specifically asked, "Are you or anyone with an ownership interest in default on any loans or leases?" Brooks answered, "No."

6) In fact, two prior judgments were still open of record. One of these, Midland Funding v. Brooks (2012-8088) was originally entered for $4,005.26 and is open to this day. The other, FIA Card Services v. Brooks (2012-7769) was entered for $7,872.59 and was open until 2024. 

Facially, it appears that Brooks lied on both applications and deprived some worthy small business of funds it may have needed to survive. I say facially because the Midland Funding judgment may have been satisfied but is just open of record. But there is no question that Brooks lied when he denied the existence of the Wiley judgment.

In addition to seeking a criminal investigation for possible false statements. Geissinger wants federal and state authorities to look into the matters surrounding a possible fraudulent conveyance to avoid paying off the Wiley judgment. That matter, however, has since settled.