Feds indict powerful Philly union boss, councilman, others
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A powerful union boss with a tight grip on construction jobs in the Philadelphia region and outsized influence in city and state politics has been indicted in alleged schemes to embezzle more than $600,000 and have a councilman on the union payroll do his bidding at City Hall.
Johnny "Doc" Dougherty has steered tens of millions of dollars to political candidates in Pennsylvania, most of them Democrats, during his 25-year tenure running the electricians union. He helped get Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney elected to office in 2015, the same year his brother, Kevin Dougherty, won a seat on the state Supreme Court.
And he's used his muscle to influence political and business decisions large and small.
According to the 116-count indictment, Dougherty pressed Comcast Corp. to steer $2 million worth of electrical work to a friend as the media giant negotiated the renewal of the city's 15-year cable lease; pressured Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to have union workers install MRI machines even though the warranty called for it to be done by the manufacturer; and had his point man at City Hall, Councilman Bobby Henon, investigate a towing company that seized Dougherty's car.
Read more: https://www.trentonian.com/news/national/feds-indict-powerful-philly-union-boss-councilman-others/article_838b923c-52a3-5148-845d-98dac8db3f23.html
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