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“As I See It”
Editorial fails to show true picture
 by Bill DeWeeseWednesday March 25, 2009, 5:00 AMAfter 33 years as a public official, I fully understand that criticism often comes with the job.However, I can't allow your March 19 editorial ("DeWeese's latest controversy just stirs up morequestions") to go without a response.At my direction as majority leader during the 2007-08 session, the House Democratic Caucusfully supported the attorney general's investigation of all four legislative caucuses.I instructed our staff to keep all documents -- destroy nothing -- and I encouraged our employeesto cooperate fully with investigators. The e-mails recently in the news were sent to the prosecutors by me and our counsel in 2007 and 2008.We cooperated. Prosecutors interviewed some 200 witnesses and reviewed tens of thousands of documents -- including the recently published e-mails. As the July 2008 grand jury presentment pointed out, of the many dozens of e-mails that discussed the bonus program in advance, I wasnot copied on any of them.Further, the overwhelming amount of evidence shows that I did not know of the political bonusscheme. If a small group of people are going to steal from the company, they don't tell the boss.My former chief of staff told prosecutors on two separate occasions with House attorneys in theroom that I was not involved. To suggest otherwise has no basis in fact.As to the claim in your editorial that I "wasn't paying attention all these years," it's important torecognize that, like any good leader, I delegated certain duties to my subordinates, many of whom were well-regarded for their instincts and work ethic by plenty of people inside andoutside the halls of the Capitol (notwithstanding what is alleged to have transpired in recentyears).Since 2003, I have been one of the chief House negotiators for Gov. Ed Rendell's substantive and progressive agenda. Unlike some of my colleagues, I also strongly believe that authorship of legislation isn't the only sign of good leadership.
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