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Farnese pleads not guilty in bribery case

State Sen. Larry Farnese pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of paying a bribe to sway a 2011 election for Democratic ward leader in Center City's Eighth Ward.

State Sen. Larry Farnese pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of paying a bribe to sway a 2011 election for Democratic ward leader in Center City's Eighth Ward.

Ellen Chapman, a committeewoman in that ward whose vote Farnese is accused of attempting to influence, also pleaded not guilty Friday.

Prosecutors say Farnese paid $6,000 to fund a college study-abroad program for Chapman's daughter in a bid for her help with the vote in the ward leader election.

Farnese and Chapman were charged with conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, and violations of the Travel Act.

Federal prosecutors say Farnese used money from his political action committee to help Chapman's daughter. Farnese listed the $6,000 in a 2011 campaign-finance report as a donation to Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y. Bard administered a study-abroad program attended by Chapman's daughter that year.

Prosecutors cite a chain of five emails from 2011 exchanged among Farnese, Chapman, and two people identified as "Person A" and "Person B" that said Chapman's daughter had a $10,000 scholarship but needed "just over $14,000 to cover tuition."

Farnese's lawyer, Mark Sheppard, said Friday that the senator would contest the charges. "He looks forward to his day in court," Sheppard said.

brennac@phillynews.com

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@ByChrisBrennan