Allegations against Justice Kevin Dougherty raise serious questions, demands further investigation

Thursday, the Philadelphia Inquirer ran a story revealing that Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty, brother of indicted Philadelphia union boss John Dougherty, received union-paid benefits as part of the same corruption scheme for which John Dougherty has been indicted.

In response, Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Val DiGiorgio, made the following statement:

“The fact that Justice Kevin Dougherty, a sitting Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice, received the same union-paid benefits his brother has been indicted for is a serious matter that raises a number of questions, like: Did Justice Dougherty knowingly request and/or accept these benefits? Was there any quid-pro-quo? Did Justice Dougherty properly disclose the receipt of these benefits? Did Justice Dougherty violate any ethical obligation if he failed to disclose the receipt of these benefits?

“We call on U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, the Judicial Conduct Board, and the Disciplinary Board of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to look further into these matters to ensure there is no fatal ethical taint on Justice Dougherty that would preclude him from carrying out the proper administration of justice in Pennsylvania.”

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