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Politically, Bonusgate enters another realm for Corbett

Call it Phase Two for state Attorney General Tom Corbett’s much-publicized Bonusgate investigation.

If the first 1,000 days of his probe into legislative corruption were Phase One, they were partly defined by only minimal attention outside political insiders, and the criticisms that the gubernatorial hopeful was politicizing the investigation were mostly whispers, largely ignored by a political and media establishment with other things on its mind.

But now, with the news that Republicans are being invited to testify before the state grand jury and with next year’s GOP primary heating up fast, things are different. Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6), Corbett’s primary rival, is repeatedly hitting Corbett for continuing to lead the investigation while seeking higher office, and he will no doubt continue to do so. Activists marked the 1,000th day of the probe by saying Corbett couldn’t have his cake and eat it, too. And the press is starting to pay more notice.

Back in April, we laid out the double-edged political sword that is Bonusgate. Corbett said back then that any charges that he’s let politics influence the probe are ludicrous, and that people who make them lack the full picture. This will no doubt continue to be his main talking point on the campaign trail.

I firmly believe that it’s still too early to know whether Bonusgate will ultimately help or hinder Corbett’s gubernatorial aspirations.

But Phase One is over. Corbett will face these questions far more often in Phase Two.

October 21, 2009 at 10:48 pm

--Dan Hirschhorn

Tags: Bonusgate, Jim Gerlach, Tom Corbett

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