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. 

Dellicker Takes Aim at MacKenzie in GOP Contest for LV Congress

Three Republicans - Kevin Dellicker, Ryan Mackenzie and Maria Montero seek the GOP nomination to take on Democratic incumbent Susan Wild in this year's race for Pa.'s 7th Congressional district. My view is that, of these three, the only candidate who could beat Wild is Montero, whose views resonate with at least some Democrats. But she's run a terrible campaign and is unlikely to survive the primary. That leaves Mackenzie and Dellicker. Mackenzie is a career politician trying his very best to be all things to all people. Right now he is branding himself as a firebrand conservative, but if he wins the primary, he'll portray himself as a moderate. Dellicker actually is a hardcore conservative. While he and I have nothing in common politically, he's at least honest about who he is and what he will do. While I'm known as the kiss of death when it comes to politics, I think he'll win the primary. 

He recently hammered MacKenzie and I thought I'd share what he has to say.  

It’s no secret that career politicians are tearing our country apart. They elevate crass ambition, vulgar discourse, and personal gain. They take words out of context and twist them to fit their own narrative. They’re inauthentic, ineffective, and out-of-touch with the voters they represent.

We have seen this in Susan Wild. She says one thing at home in the Lehigh Valley and votes the complete opposite in Washington, DC. She claims to be bi-partisan but supports Joe Biden 99% of the time.

Now we’re seeing this same behavior from my GOP primary opponent, Ryan Mackenzie. For months, Ryan has been launching personal attacks against me and I’ve largely ignored his silly routine. I’ve always focused on running a positive campaign that touts my own experience and relevant credentials. But recently, he’s been going after my family, my volunteers, and my supporters. It’s time to respond.

• Ryan tells GOP voters he’s “America First” and expresses his unfailing loyalty to Donald Trump. But Ryan’s campaign is buoyed by Americans for Prosperity – a Super PAC with no fundraising or spending limits that supports amnesty for illegal immigrants, opposes tariffs on China, and was working throughout the GOP primary to defeat Donald Trump. Career politicians will do anything to get elected.
• Ryan routinely attacks my military service and calls me nicknames that disparage our men and women in uniform. But while Ryan was safe and sound at New York University, I was fighting Al Qaida in the Middle East. And while he was enjoying life in Boston at the Harvard Republican Club, I was ducking into bunkers in Afghanistan. Career politicians don’t understand real sacrifice but have no problem impugning military veterans if they think they can score political points.
• Ryan touts his record in the state legislature as evidence of his conservative achievements. Yet, he voted to make Pennsylvania a sanctuary state for out-of-town abortion providers. And he was a leader in passing Act 77, the law that gave us no-excuse mail-in ballots. Act 77 has done more damage to Republican candidates than any other law in a generation, but Ryan said he would vote for it again. Career politicians can never admit when they’re wrong.
• Ryan Mackenzie has never served in the military and never held a private-sector job. He has been a legislator for 12 years and worked in politics his entire adult life. Yet he touts himself as “feared by the establishment.” Career politicians like Ryan are the establishment.

I’m disappointed that I had to write this note. I find no need to respond to Ryan’s juvenile provocations against me. But when he attacks my family, my volunteers, and my supporters, he’s also attacking you, the voters. I need to speak up.

The last thing we need in Washington is another career politician looking to further his own ambition at the expense of us taxpayers. You deserve better.

What we need is someone with real-world experience who will go to Washington, get the job done, and return home. That's what our Founders envisioned, and that's exactly what I will do.

Nothstein Proposes Allentown After-School Center

Congressional candidate Mart Nothstein wants to be your "education congressman,"and released a statement yesterday pledging to raise $10 million for a combined education, sports, and mentorship complex in Allentown. He picks Allentown because he said it is crucial that the city increase its graduation and success rate for youth.

“I was shocked to learn that roughly 30 percent of ninth grade students in Allentown and surrounding areas don’t graduate," he said. "How can we expect them to have good lives without a functional education?”

He would rely mostly on the private sector for funding.

“I want people to imagine a great and vibrant after-school center,” he explains. “It should be open weekends and during the summer, and provide not only the technology of the future but the values of the past provided by mentors.”

Mayor Ray O'Connell with kids this summer
at Cedar Beach Park

Studies show that violent crime by juvenile offenders occur in the late afternoon, around 4 pm. That will be far less likely if they are at an after-school center. I have complained here before that Allentown school gyms especially need to be open at nights and weekends, manned by adult volunteers.

In December, Allentown's school board was told that a high percentage of ninth graders at William Allen (277) and Dieruff High Schools (139) must repeat their freshman year. It was learned that Dieruff receives more funding for after-school services than Allen.

Putting politics aside for a moment, this is an innovative idea that Allentown surely needs. Mayor Ray O'Connell has often tied the City's success to the school district.

“The future of our children is tied to great and effective education, especially our minority and inner-city children,” said Nothstein. Unfortunately, much of Allentown's population is transient. Many minority parents who are more worried about putting food on the table than seeing their son or daughter play sports.

This is an idea that should be adopted by Nothstein's two opponents, Susan Wild and Tim Silfies. In forums at which I've seen or heard them, all three have stressed the importance of education.

Jennings Hosts Informative Pa-7 Congressional Forum

Marty Nothstein

Lehigh Valley Discourse is perhaps the worst talk show on local radio. Even the introductory music puts you to sleep. But last night, CACLV's Alan Jennings hosted perhaps one of the best pre-election forums I've ever heard. He did so by letting each candidate answer well prepared questions fully, with no interruptions. Each candidate was able to express himself and herself fully. The result is that this forum had three winners. Here's my summary:

Jennings, an unabashed liberal who lamented that he wished he could be running for Congress, kicked things off  with his own state of the nation:

"Employment is at record highs, and yet the wage growth normally associated with wage growth is sputtering at best. The stock market is hopping, creating wealth for those who can play, but too few can. Our world is a scary place, but diplomacy seems to be out of style. It's been 153 years since slavery was abolished, yet African Americans continue to be treated like second class citizens. Women are running for office in greater numbers than ever, yet they are still being groped on national television. The planet is a bake oven, yet we are retreating on the kinds of measures that can ease the pressure on our environment The world is in desperate need of unity, yet we are increasingly divided."

Tim Silfies

He allowed opening statements, which I'll skip, and then posed well-considered questions to the three candidates seeking to succeed Charlie Dent. They are Mary Nothstein (R), Tim Silfies(L) and Susan Wild (D).

What about Trump's approach to foreign affairs?

Silfies said there are "good things and bad things" about Trump's foreign policy. He objected to hardcore rhetoric towards N. Korea, but liked it when Trump actually sat down with Kim Jong Un. Silfies is a "noninterventionist."

Wild answered that the United States "needs to get back to being a diplomatic leader in this world." She charged Trump with "eviscerating" the diplomatic corps and the state department. She said Trump has failed to work with our allies. She accused him of "bending over for autocrats" at the expense of long-standing allies.

Nothstein lauded Trump for his willingness to sit down with foreign leaders. He declared we need to "take care of America first." He defended trump as the "ultimate outsider" who ignores the traditional approach. He admitted that everyone at this table "cringes at times," but said the intent is good.

Sue Wild

Jennings asks Nothstein to state his position on climate change - Nothstein acknowledged extremes in our weather patterns. He even posited that rolling back regulations designed to spur business "could" hurt our environment. "As a guy who has protected hundreds of acres of his own property, the environment is very important to me. Open space is very important to me. These are things that are near and dear to my heart." But at this point, he has not entirely bought into global warming.

Jennings asks Silfies how a government with Libertarians would still work. - Silfies replied Libertarianism is the "quintessential American philosophy." It focuses on individual liberties with a "common sense limited government." It empowers people at the local level while "helping people who need help."

Jennings asked Wild how she would dispel perception that Democrats are insiders who sell their principles. - She agreed voters are discouraged "because people perceive, probably correctly, that Washington is run by special interests and corporate interests." She will refuse to accept any corporate PAC money. She added, "We are way too polarized." She prides herself on her negotiating skill, developed during 35 years as a lawyer. "I've gotten pretty good at it," she boasted.

Is it time to increase the minimum wage? - Nothstein said a minimum wage should be dictated by the markets and state government. He calls minimum wage jobs "stepping stones" to better jobs. Silfies said that, as a reporter, he heard what impact this has on small business. "The people we want to help end up getting hurt," he observed. There would be unintended consequences. Wild argued the minimum wage should be a "living wage" instead of an "abysmal $7.25 per hour. She wants to phase in a higher minimum wage until it reaches $15 per hour. "The more money we put into the pockets of the average worker, the more those workers are able to consume the kinds of things that build our economy."

We spend more on health care than other countries, but are more unhealthy than most. Is here a better way to provide access to health care? - Silfies would like to see more free market solutions instead of responding to the problem from Washington. He noted Lasik eye surgery is paid for by individuals, and prices have gone down. "Health care is a right, not a privilege," said Wild. She argued that Medicare should be allowed to negotiate drug prices to make it more efficient. Nothstein agreed health care costs have risen dramatically, but that Washington needs to stay out of it..

Why do we have a race problem, and what can Congress do? - Wild said people are being judged by their worst examples. She suggested there must be criminal justice reforms. Se added, "What's happening at the federal level now, with this President and this administration, isn't doing anything at all to change prevailing attitudes about race relations."  Nothstein posited education in inner cities is key. he pointed out that 1,000 kids every year drop out of school before graduating. "We need to fix that problem," he reasoned. He added, "We've been misinforming our youth for years. You do not need a college education to earn a living wage or to have a career." He supports promoting careers in trades and apprenticeships. "I'm a white guy who grew up in Bethlehem," said Silfies."I just don't know." He declared the best thing he could do is "listen and have more conversations with people who are not like me."

Is Amazon good or bad for this country? -  Nothstein likes Amazon,and said e-commerce is now part of our economy. Siflies said it's great. He said he can uber to work from his Airbnb, and return home to find an Amazon package."It's wonder to watch, and it makes all of our lives better," he noted. Wild admitted e-commerce is here to stay,and is an Amazon Prime member. But she's going to end it because Amazon is not good to its customers ad does not pay well. She also laments the lack of human interaction.

How would you solve student debt? - Wild said college should be more affordable. Student debt should be restructured. She argued it's "outrageous" that interest rates on student loans are higher than on her mortgage and car loan. Nothstein slammed predatory for-profit colleges that have catchy marketing plans and load students up with debt, and the students end up unable to graduate. He also pointed out that the cost of education has skyrocketed. Silfies asked,"Why does everyone need to go to college?" . He's done stories about welders and machinists who start at $60,000.He also argued that college cost goes up because administrators know that the government is willing to give loans.

How will you be different than Charlie Dent and how will you emulate him? - Wild said she will forge her own path, and her focus is working families. But she thinks Dent was dignified, civilized and willing to listen. Nothstein said Dent "leaves big shoes to fill," and also did what's right for the district. Nothstein said his focus will be jobs and infrastructure. Silfies likes Dent's demeanor and acknowledged he was able to get support from both sides. He believes he is like Dent in that regard.

Congressional Dems Will Debate at Lehigh

As the above flyer indicates, Congressional Democrats have agreed to a debate at Lehigh University one week from today. I'll be at NorCo Council that night and am unable to attend. Breena Holland from Lehigh University has warned me that Neville Hall can only hold 300. More than that, and the building tips over. So if you want to go, best to reserve a seat with Lehigh Valley For All right now, and at this link.

Also, in case you were wondering, the Republican Congressional candidates were contacted and asked if they wanted a debate. The Committee people were stoked, but the campaigns were unable to nail down a date.

Holland is also hoping to schedule a debate between the primary winners this fall.