Philadelphia DA R. Seth Williams; ethical goblin

The state of Pennsylvania presented R. Seth Williams with a law license in 1993 after he graduated from Georgetown University Law School.

The Philadelphia City Ethics Board found Seth guilty of engaging in the following misconduct.

• Failed to disclose 89 gifts he received over the course of six years
• Improper gift included $690 and 76ers in Phillies tickets
• Accepted Visa gift cards from criminal defense attorney
• Accepted and $400 in cash from two subordinates in DA’s office

As a direct consequence of his misconduct, the apologists for Public Official Misfits sitting on the City Ethics Board punished Seth by imposing an ethics fine of $62,000.

If City Ethics Board operates like its counterparts in Texas and Californian Seth can use campaign funds to pay the $62,000 fine. This would mean that whoever said “crime doesn’t pay” is full of it.

As we speak (ca. January 2017), Pete continues to be employed as Philadelphia District Attorney.