Reply #31: Pennslyvania Republican indicted for framing constituent for Anthrax

[Zuni]

The US Postal Inspection Service had said the powder was harmless.

In court documents, authorities claim Habay said the package came from George Radich, a constituent who along with four others asked Commonwealth Court to conduct an audit of Habay's political action committee, the Friends of Jeff Habay.

Radich had insisted the powder was not there when he mailed the letter and said he did not try to hide his identity when mailing it. Postal officials said Radich paid for the mailing with a credit card, an unusual thing to do if someone had put the powder in the envelope.

Habay, a five-term Allegheny County Republican, is already awaiting trial on ethics charges. He was charged last year with theft of service and conflict of interest for allegedly using his staff to campaign on state time.

The State Ethics Commission ordered Habay to pay nearly $13,000 in restitution and referred the case to state prosecutors, who filed the felony charges.