DA: Orie Should Pay $2 Million For Corruption Conviction

The Allegheny County District Attorney is asking Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning to order former state Sen. Jane Orie to pay $780,000 in damages related to her conviction March 14 of using her state-funded staff for political work. 

In a 68-page sentencing memorandum filed with the court, Assistant District Attorney Lawrence Claus explained in lengthy detail how the prosecution arrived at that amount. 

Those damages are in addition to the $1.2 million prosecutors want Orie to repay to the Pennsylvania Senate for defending the case. The prosecution is also asking Orie to forfeit $200,000 from her campaign finance account and her pension. 

Her attorney, William Costopoulous, declined comment, according to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. 

 She is under house arrest until that time and is being monitored through the use of an electronic bracelet. 

The 40th District includes all of Ross Township and West View Borough, as well as Shaler, Hampton, Marshall, Pine, Richland and West Deer townships and Franklin Park. It also extends north into Butler County and includes Cranberry and Adams townships and , , boroughs.

Orie’s replacement will be chosen by special election—and it may be for a Senate district on the other side of the state.

Under a new legislative map being reviewed by the Legislative Reapportionment Committee, Orie’s district would  

Orie’s sister, State Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin, was accused of similar charges last week, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. She has temporarily stepped down from the bench until the case is settled, and maintains her innocence.