Local Man "Vindicated" by Charges Against Legislator

KDKA local story ^ | Mar 31, 2005

[Inkognitow]

Pittsburgh (KDKA) A Shaler Township man questioned about his possible involvement in an anthrax scare involving a Representative Jeff Habay says he feels vindicated now that authorities believe Habay made up the story.

Habay claimed he received a letter from a critical constituent at his house that contained a suspicious white powder.

After the allegations surfaced, US Postal Inspectors, police and investigators from the district attorney's office showed up at George Radich's house to question him. "I was scared, it really threw me for a loop... [The postal inspectors] asked me, had I mailed anything to Jeffrey Habay. I said yes. They asked me a couple of questions, and then they told me about the white powder... I mean, you have this powerful Harrisburg politician -- and, you know, who am I?" -- George Radich, Shaler While Radich admitted mailing the letter to Habay last year, he steadfastly denied putting any powder in the envelope.

Radich and several other Shaler area residents had asked for a court audit of Habay's political action committee. Radich's wife at one time worked for Habay.

Late yesterday, officials filed charges against Habay -- saying he lied about the powder. "I feel vindicated. I've had this hanging over my head for about a year...I knew I had done nothing wrong." -- George Radich, Shaler According to the criminal complaint, Habay gave false information to police and postal inspectors.

He's now facing 20 new charges including a felony charge of possessing a facsimile weapon of mass destruction and false incrimination.

Though Habay had no comment about the allegations, his father told KDKA his son had nothing to do with the powder. "How can they charge somebody with what? What information do they have to charge? Where's the proof?

" It's all false accusations, lies... That mail was put in his mailbox by somebody else, that's what it was." -- Harry Habay, Rep. Habay's Father While the warrant for Habay's arrest is still active, he may not be arrested until next week.

Habay's attorney, Jim Ecker, says they are making arrangements for him to turn himself in.

[Inkognitow]

Jeff Habay

"Lawmaker accused in hoax said he had 'something better planned":

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/103-03312005-470430.html

"Jeff Habay was once GOP's rising star":

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/news/s_319470.html

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

What an interesting time we live in. "Powdergate".

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Habay has got to be a complete idiot.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

If our government admitted that the anthrax is most likely terror-related, we could narrow the suspicious letters considerably. A school teacher got in trouble for it. Here a politician got in trouble for it. Etc.

In the end, we might find that it was an Islamic with access to our own anthrax. Too bad anthrax access wasn't religiously profiled. I'm not saying we should ban muslims from everything, but we ought to consider that at the highest levels of security. Just a hunch.

But that would hurt the stock market, to admit that terrorists still have some striking ability, which would drag down the economy.

[Razz Barry]

"Habay has got to be a complete idiot."

Has to be. I'm an idiot and would never think I could get away with something like that. Maybe I should run for office. LOL

[Mad Mammoth]

Habay will successfully argue that he should receive probation and community service, because his babyface would leave him vulnerable to (ahem) 'unwarranted attention' in the prison system, and hey - what's one felony count? Even Sandy Berger didn't have to plead to a felony!