Jun. 12--HOPEWELL TWP. -- During an event in Hopewell Township Thursday, Republican state Attorney General Tom Corbett rejected accusations that his probe into legislative corruption is simply a partisan witch hunt meant to boost his gubernatorial bid next year.

"We didn't go looking for this," Corbett, a Shaler Township resident, said shortly after arriving at The Fez banquet hall for a Republican Committee of Beaver County fundraiser.

Corbett, who has formed an exploratory committee for a possible run for governor in 2010, said his office responded to January 2007 stories in the Harrisburg Patriot-News about bonuses paid by legislators to staffers. "True justice is not partisan," he said.

Bonusgate, as the scandal has been dubbed, is now well into its third year.

Among those Democrats indicted so far are former state Rep. Mike Veon, a Harrisburg resident formerly of West Mayfield, and former state Rep. Sean Ramaley of Economy, who was forced to quit the state Senate race last year after he was indicted.

Ten other staffers, including Veon's former district director Annamarie Perretta-Rosepink of Beaver Falls, have been charged in the bonus probe.

Veon and Perretta-Rosepink have also been charged with misusing nearly $10 million in public money that was intended for the Beaver Initiative for Growth, an economic development agency founded by Veon and former state Sen. Gerald LaValle of Rochester Township.

Last month, a Harrisburg district judge tossed out the BIG charges against Veon and Perretta-Rosepink, but Corbett's office re-filed and asked for a new judge. That request was granted Thursday.

"The decision's fine," Corbett said, declining to comment further.

WHAT SAY YOU?

State Attorney General Tom Corbett's answers to additional questions about his offices investigations on legislative bonuses and misuse of funds:

Q. Why haven't any Republicans been indicted yet?

A. "We are examining everything. You can't do it all at once ... We are moving as fast as we can."

Q. Why hasn't LaValle, who was also involved in BIG's operations, been charged?

A. "I can't comment. The Senate side (of the investigation) isn't done."

Q. Do you think the Bonusgate probe will help you get elected governor?

A. "I don't look at it from that perspective."

Q. Do you think the prosecution of Veon will help you win in Democrat-dominated Beaver County, if you run for governor?

A. "We're not trying this case running for office. We are doing our job."

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