A Pennsylvania lawmaker will avoid jail time and keep her pension despite admitting in a felony plea that she used her taxpayer-funded staff for campaign fundraising.
State Sen. Leanna Washington will spend three months of house arrest during five years of probation.
She must also pay $200,000 in restitution to the state Senate as a result of Thursday's plea.
The 69-year-old Democrat, who had lost a re-election bid in May, will resign her Philadelphia-area seat effective Friday. She had no comment when she entered a Montgomery County courtroom Thursday but she was tearing up as she spoke after the hearing.
“I apologize to those that have been negatively impacted or affected,” a tearful Washington said before becoming overcome by her emotions.
Washington called the plea deal “the best decision for my constituents, my family and the people of the Commonwealth.”
The plea agreement drops a theft-of-services count that would have cost Washington her pension. Washington also agreed to cooperate with the investigation against others.
Washington said she recognizes that it was illegal to use her staff to work on her annual "birthday party" fundraisers.
She becomes the 13th current or former Pennsylvania lawmaker to be convicted of crimes in the past decade.
She called it a "great honor" to have served.
