Penn Pike ex-chairman Rubin sang to Feds, more charges & arrests expected

The US Attorney's office in Philadelphia this morning formally charged Mitchell Rubin with a single obstruction of justice count in line with reports that he has been cooperating with the Feds to help them dig deeper into corruption at the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. Rubin was dismissed as chairman of the Turnpike by the state governor last year after the Feds identified him as the target of a criminal inquiry.

US Attorney Virginia Gibson says today Rubin was "charged by (an) information" with obstruction of justice in connection with the US grand jury investigation of former state senator Vincent Fumo, convicted of some 137 counts of thievery and malfeasance and now serving a 5 year jail term.

The 3-page "information" or charge sheet refers to Rubin obstructing justice by withholding material facts and failing to fully and honestly respond to questions during an interview March 23 2006. He had voluntarily agreed to be interviewed, so gave up his right to remain silent.

The charge sheet says the subject of the interview was a $30,000/year plus 'expenses' contract Rubin had with Fumo's Senate Democratic (Party) Appropriations Committee. Rubin was on the Senate payroll for five years.

Rubin who operates gambling businesses and was a Democratic Party operative is assumed to have done zero legitimate work for the legislature in return for the taxpayer money that Fumo directed to him. However he is not charged with corruption, malfeasance and thievery, suggesting a plea bargain has been reached in which he accepts the minor obstruction charge in return for information and testimony against others at the Turnpike who committed criminal acts.

I-80 tolling

The charges against Rubin have no legal bearing on the Turnpike's application to the Feds to toll I-80 but they add to the political price they'd pay for a Yes decision.

The press release:

http://www.tollroadsnews.com/sites/default/files/USDOJpr_0.pdf

The charge sheet:

http://www.tollroadsnews.com/sites/default/files/charge.pdf

TOLLROADSnews 2010-03-10