The Pennsylvania Judicial Center in Harrisburg.
Ian Sterling / WITF
Dauphin County public defender accused of giving comp time for campaigning
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The Associated Press
Ian Sterling / WITF
The Pennsylvania Judicial Center in Harrisburg.
(Harrisburg) — State prosecutors are accusing the chief public defender in Harrisburg with approving double compensatory time for workers in his office to do campaign work in a county judicial race.
The attorney general’s office has charged 47-year-old Bradley Winnick with theft, conflict of interest and tampering with public records.
Winnick is the chief public defender in Dauphin County. He lives in Hummelstown.
Neither he nor his lawyer returned messages.
“Our election laws are clear-public funds are not to be used to support political work,” said stae Attorney General Josh Shapiro. He allegedly not only misused taxpayer dollars and attempted to cover it up, but he also undermined the integrity of our democratic process. My Office will continue to investigate and prosecute public corruption wherever we find it, no matter what position of power the defendant may hold.”
Police say in charging documents that Winnick told investigators he approved $26,000 in double time off for lawyers, investigators and others to do campaign work during the 2017 primary and general elections.
He began working as First Assistant Public Defender of Dauphin County in 2006. Five years later, he was named Chief Public Defender.
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