DA Seth Williams Pleads Not Guilty To Federal Charges: Reports

Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams was in court Wednesday for his arraignment after a grand jury filed an indictment charging the city's top prosecutor with crimes including bribery and fraud.

According to NBC10, Williams pleaded not guilty in federal court Wednesday to 23 counts of four different charges.

Those charged are 10 counts of travel and use of interstate facilities to promote and facilitate bribery contrary to Pennsylvania law; two counts of extortion; five counts of honest wire fraud; and six counts of wire fraud.

6ABC reports Williams was released after signing a $50,000 bond.

Defense lawyer Michael Diamondstein said Williams "vehemently denies that he ever compromised any investigation, case or law enforcement function," according to NBC10.

The indictment claims Williams accepted gifts including a Jaguar vehicle, a trip to the Dominican Republic, checks and cash, and a custom sofa among other high end items.

He allegedly accepted the gifts from a business owner who asked for help from Williams in a legal matter, according to the indictment.

The indictment also claims Williams defrauding a nursing home and other individuals by diverting money to be used for care of Williams' relative that he spent on himself.

The charges comes after Williams announced in February he will not seek reelection after causing controversy by accepting financial gift and not disclosing them.

Williams accepted more than $175,000 in gifts and did not report them and was hit with a $62,000 fine from the city's ethics board back in January, according to Philly.com

"For this i will always hold deep regret in my heart," Williams said in his February announcement. "To those who have served, to those who serve today, and to those who will serve in the future: I offer my deepest and sincere apologies."

Williams said the remainder of his time in office will be spent earning back the public's trust that he said he lost.

Image via City of Philadelphia