Inquirer Editorial: Philly's ethics-challenged district attorney needs to resign

District Attorney Seth Williams finally acknowledged what was obvious to nearly everyone else: He has brought "shame" and "embarrassment" to his office.

Williams made the painful admission Friday in announcing he would not seek a third term in office. That's a good first step. But rather than linger in office until his term expires at the end of the year, Williams should spare taxpayers any further embarrassment and resign now.

Williams, whose annual salary is $175,572, said he had made "mistakes" in his "financial life that cast an unnecessary shadow" over the district attorney's office. That shadow will remain until Williams is gone. So why hamper such an important agency's ability to function over the next 10 months?

Williams has been dogged by a series of ethics controversies since at least August 2015, when the Inquirer reported that he was under federal investigation. The FBI and IRS had subpoenaed financial records from a political action committee that Williams used to run for office in 2005, 2009, and 2013.

Ever since, there has been a steady drip of bad news regarding the city's top law enforcement official.

In August 2016, Williams amended his financial interest statements for 2010 to 2015 in order to list $160,500 in previously undisclosed cash and gifts. The shocking disclosure included $45,000 in home repairs, trips to Key West, Las Vegas, San Diego, and the Dominican Republic, a $2,700 sofa, a $300 iPad, gift cards, and two game-day sideline passes to every Eagles game over five years.

That same month, federal investigators expanded their probe to include a nonprofit Williams founded in 2011 called the Second Chance Foundation. Investigators subpoenaed financial documents from the foundation as a grand jury continued to examine whether he misspent funds.

Last month, Williams agreed to pay a record $62,000 fine to the Philadelphia Board of Ethics for failure to report five sources of income and 89 gifts on city financial statements over six years. The agreement included another bombshell: $15,666 in previously undisclosed gifts, including some from defense attorneys with cases being prosecuted by Williams' office.

The Inquirer reported on Friday that the federal investigation of Williams was nearing its conclusion. Williams' political career may be ending, but his legal troubles are ongoing. That is why he needs to step down now.

The legal cloud that hangs over him has to be a distraction. The taint he has brought to the office has to be demoralizing to the other prosecutors and staff.

But most troubling of all, Williams' taking of thousands of dollars in gifts — including some from defense attorneys — shatters the integrity of the District Attorney's Office. Putting aside any legal questions, in accepting the gifts, Williams has created a potential and ongoing conflict of interest when it comes to deciding how to administer justice.

Whatever good works or reforms Williams may have accomplished while in office have been overshadowed by his taking of these gifts. His credibility is shot; the District Attorney's Office cannot adequately function while he remains in charge.