Sentencing for former Pa. Treasurer Rob McCord set for today
FILE PHOTO: In this Feb. 17, 2015, file photo, former elected Pennsylvania state treasurer Rob McCord walks from the U.S. District Court in Harrisburg. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
(Undated) — Former state treasurer Rob McCord is slated to be sentenced in federal court in Harrisburg today, after pleading guilty to extortion more than three years ago.
Prosecutors have delayed McCord’s sentencing as he cooperated with authorities investigating wider corruption.
McCord was a promising figure in Pennsylvania politcs. But then the FBI secretly recorded him bullying campaign contributors. If they didn’t donate, he was recorded as saying, they might lose contracts with the state.
“Clearly that was wrong,” said McCord after announcing his sudden resignation in a 2015 YouTube video. He later pleaded guilty to extortion.
It’s unclear how much credit prosecutors will give him for flipping on his former associates, since a case he helped prosecutors with fell apart during trial.
The Democrat faces up to about six years in prison. In his resignation video, he said he’s prepared to own up to his crimes
“I stand ready to pay the price for the mistake,” he said. “I’ve always believed in accountability and talked about accountability. Now, I have to live it.”
McCord’s lawyer is expected to ask the judge for a light sentence, saying most of McCord’s career was dedicated to good-faith public service.
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