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Activist files federal complaint against Fumo judge

Contact staff writer Angela Couloumbis at 717-787-5934 or acouloumbis@phillynews.com.

    by Angela Couloumbis Harrisburg political activist Gene Stilp filed a federal judicial code of conduct complaint yesterday against U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter, alleging that the judge's comments during the sentencing of former State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo "undermined the public confidence in the independence and integrity of the court." Last month, Buckwalter sentenced Fumo to 55 months in prison after federal prosecutors urged the judge to impose a term of more than 15 years. Fumo was convicted of charges that he illegally extracted $4 million in benefits, defrauding the Senate getting workers to do his personal and political work on state time and defrauding two nonprofits. He also was found guilty of obstructing justice. In imposing the sentence, Buckwalter noted more than 250 letters of support for Fumo that the defense submitted. In his complaint, Stilp states that thousands of letters could have been generated citizens "who have witnessed Mr. Fumo's vindictive and corrupt methods . . . but citizens did not realize that Judge Buckwalter made his decisions based on letters from defendants' political friends and benefactors." Buckwalter's office said the judge would have no comment on the complaint. Stilp contends that only an investigation "a body appointed the federal judiciary can learn the true facts behind the sentencing of Mr. Fumo," and determine whether "Judge Buckwalter was politically influenced" in meting out punishment., Inquirer Staff Writer
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