PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Latest on the announcement by U.S. Rep. Bob Brady ‘s announcement he won’t seek re-election (all times local):
2:15 p.m.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says Congressman Bob Brady earned a reputation as a “forceful champion for working people in Pennsylvania and across the nation.”
Brady, a Democrat from Philadelphia, announced Wednesday he won’t be seeking re-election.
In a statement, Pelosi makes no mention of Brady’s legal troubles. His decision not to run again comes amid an FBI investigation into a payment his campaign made to a primary opponent in 2012 who ended up quitting the race.
Pelosi says that Brady spent his two decades on Capitol Hill “promoting affordable housing, quality health care and access to life-saving prescription drugs.”
Brady is the top ranking Democrat on the House Administration Committee. Pelosi says he’s been “a powerful voice on critical oversight issues, including ensuring our federal elections are free, fair and transparent.”
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1:45 p.m.
U.S. Rep. Bob Brady of Philadelphia says he decided to retire so he could spend more time with his family, not because of the corruption case dogging him.
The FBI has said it believes Brady’s campaign unlawfully concealed a $90,000 payment to get a primary opponent to quit the race in 2012.
Three people have already pleaded guilty in the case but Brady has not been charged. The congressman said Wednesday his lawyers told him he would not face charges because of the statute of limitations.
He said, “I did nothing wrong.”
Brady has served in Congress for two decades and has been Philadelphia’s Democratic Party boss going back 30 years.
He said it’s time “to come back home.”
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12:50 a.m.
U.S. Rep. Bob Brady of Philadelphia won’t seek another term in Congress, giving up the seat he’s held for two decades.
Brady and his lawyer revealed the news to reporters and Democratic Party ward leaders in Philadelphia on Wednesday.
The 72-year-old Brady was facing a potentially stiff primary challenge from former city official Nina Ahmad. His decision comes after the FBI investigated a payment his campaign made to a primary opponent in 2012.
Court documents made public in November showed the FBI believed Brady unlawfully concealed the $90,000 payment to get the primary opponent to quit the race. Brady has denied any wrongdoing.
Last month, a political consultant for Brady pleaded guilty to lying about the payment.
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