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Text of April 23 press release.

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HARRISBURG ± Several District Attorneys questioned Montgomery County District Attorney


Bruce Castor¶s refusal to address the issue of whether it was ethical for Castor¶s office to
prosecute an individual that was a ³longtime friend´, a neighbor and a contributor to his
campaign.

On Wednesday, April 21, Bruce Castor issued a statement defending the apparent lenient
treatment of a rich contributor to his campaign, but failed to acknowledge the fact that Castor¶s
office had a responsibility to refer the case to the Office of Attorney General because of the
obvious ethical conflict.

Castor says that he and Drew Lewis are longtime friends and that the Lewises, ³have always
been there for me in the past, and I have every reason to believe they will continue to be there for
me not just now, but in the future as well.´ (Allentown Morning Call, April 17, 2004)

Bruce Castor¶s expense reports show that Drew Lewis had also contributed to Castor¶s campaign
about a month before his second DUI arrest. (Friends of Bruce Castor Campaign Expense
Report, 10/22/01)

³Bruce Castor does not seem to understand that it is unethical to allow his office to prosecute his
close friends, neighbors and contributors to his campaign,´ said Brian Nutt, Corbett¶s Campaign
Manager. ³On the other hand, he demonstrates very well exactly why it is unethical: while DUI
convictions are landing people in jail in Montgomery County, Castor¶s µlongtime friend¶ gets to
spend time eating prime rib at a place described as a paradise.´

Several Pennsylvania District Attorneys today questioned both Castor¶s characterization of the
treatment as ³harsh´ and his refusal to acknowledge his lapse of ethics.

³Just two weeks ago a practicing attorney in Bedford County was charged with a repeat DUI
offense,´ said Bedford County District Attorney Bill Higgins. ³This individual was a friend and
had previously made a small contribution to my campaign, and I felt it was necessary to
immediately recuse myself from the case to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest.´

³How Bruce Castor can say that Lewis¶ sentence was harsh is a bit confusing,´ said Franklin
County District Attorney John Nelson. ³But that still does not respond to the issue that it was
inappropriate for Castor¶s office to prosecute and arrange a plea bargain for his friend and
supporter.´

Crawford County District Attorney Francis Schultz said, ³If in fact Lewis was a friend and
neighbor at the time of the DUI arrest, in my opinion he should have recused his entire office
from the prosecution of the case.´
³At the very least, Mr. Castor should have transferred the Lewis matter to the Attorney General¶s
office, pursuant to the Commonwealth Attorney¶s Act, which permits the Attorney Genereal to
intercede when the Commonwealth represents that there is an actual, or the appearance of, a
conflict of interest´ said York County District Attorney Stan Rebert. ³This was an obvious
conflict of interest and Mr. Castor should have recused himself. For Castor to take this $600,000
contribution simply doesn¶t pass the smell test.´

³While it¶s not uncommon for a judge to grant credit for time spent in treatment, I cannot agree
that this sentence was harsh by any standards,´ said Erie County District Attorney Brad Foulk.
³Many repeat DUI offenders spend time in jail. Obviously, that would have been more harsh
than spending time at a rehab farm.´

³How can Bruce Castor not understand the appearance of impropriety? Maybe he interprets the
law differently when it applies to himself. Castor should immediately return the $600,000 and
apologize to the voters for his ethical conflict and the appearance that the top law enforcement
office in Pennsylvania is for sale in exchange for political and legal favors,´ said Nutt.

The following District Attorneys are available to discuss this issue with the press: Bedford
County District Attorney Bill Higgins: (814) 623-4855, Bradford County District Attorney
Stephen Downs: (570) 265-1712, Crawford County District Attorney Francis Schultz: (814) 333-
7455, Erie County District Attorney Brad Foulk: (814) 451-7023, Franklin County District
Attorney John Nelson: (717) 261-3827, York County District Attorney Stan Rebert: (717) 771-
9737

CONTACT: Brian Nutt, Campaign Manager, (717) 238-4009

SOURCE: Friends of Tom Corbett

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