A political challenger of a powerful U.S. representative will plead guilty to hiding a $90,000 payment from the congressman’s campaign in exchange for withdrawing from a 2012 election, according to their attorneys.
The lawyer for former Philadelphia Judge Jimmie Moore as well as the lawyer for U.S. Rep. Bob Brady confirmed with NBC10 that Moore plans on pleading guilty next week at the earliest to making false statements in his campaign filings by concealing a $90,000 payment from Brady’s campaign.
In July, Carolyn Cavaness, a pastor who was an aide for Moore during his 2012 candidacy in the Democratic primary for the seat currently held by Brady, told officials she set up at Moore's direction a shell company that would be used to accept $90,000 from Brady. In turn, she said, Moore dropped out of the race and used the cash to pay off his campaign debt.
The money was routed through two political consultants who falsified invoices intended to justify the payments, officials said. Cavaness pleaded guilty to filing false statements to hide the transactions.
Moore dropped out of the race, and Brady won the Democratic primary and the general election and is still in office. Moore resigned from his position as municipal court senior judge last week.
Brady has never been charged with anything or accused of any wrongdoing. Brady’s attorney denies that his client was aware the payment to Moore would be concealed.
