HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A former Pennsylvania House speaker and an ex-legislative aide learned Thursday their public corruption convictions will get a fresh look by a state appeals court.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Thursday directed a lower court to reconsider issues involving former Speaker John Perzel and Annamarie Perretta-Rosepink , echoing a similar ruling made in November that granted a new trial to Perretta-Rosepink’s former boss, onetime House Democratic Whip Mike Veon.
Perzel, a Philadelphia Republican who was once among the state’s most powerful politicians, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, conflict of interest and theft as part of an investigation into the Legislature by the attorney general’s office that began in 2007. His appeal focuses on whether he should have to pay the state $1 million in restitution imposed by a judge.
“You can imagine, a million-dollar restitution order hanging over your head the rest of your life will ruin your life. You can’t possibly live a normal life after that,” said Perzel’s attorney, Joel Sansone.
Sansone said Perzel has been making small payments, but he now expects the lower court to overturn the restitution order.
Perzel served nearly two years in prison and was released in 2014.
Perretta-Rosepink’s lawyer, Michael Palermo, said the high court ruling concerned her challenge to a conviction on a charge of conflict of interest. He said she has served her time.
She was also found guilty in 2010 of theft and conspiracy.
The two orders issued Thursday vacated previous decisions by the state Superior Court and said the issues should be reconsidered in light of the Veon ruling.
In the Veon decision, the Supreme Court ruled that a county judge made a mistake in telling jurors Veon did not have to gain financially to be convicted of violating the conflict-of-interest law.
The Supreme Court’s main opinion in the Veon case said the crime must involve a financial benefit, and that intangible political benefits are not sufficient.
Sansone, who also represents Veon, said he expects the Supreme Court’s ruling for Veon regarding restitution to eventually result in overturning restitution orders for other defendants caught up in the investigation.
A spokesman for the attorney general’s office said the decisions were being reviewed. He declined to comment on prosecutors’ plans regarding the Veon case.
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