Fascinating story in the Philadelphia Inquirer (Verizon's Whelan says Fumo turned up heat to get his way and Fumo trial: Alleged obstruction of justice), with additional background at BBR from Karl Bode.

A powerful Democratic state senator in Pennsylvania obtained tens of millions of dollars for politically connected nonprofits, and may have even obtained over $100 million. "Fumo, 65, a once-powerful Democrat in Philadelphia and in Harrisburg, is accused of defrauding the state Senate and two nonprofits, as well as trying to thwart the FBI and IRS inquiry."

The article adds:

On Monday, [Verizon's] Whelan testified that Fumo demanded more than $50 million in contributions to several nonprofits and other groups he supported, including Citizens' Alliance for Better Neighborhoods, one of the agencies he is accused of defrauding. He is not charged with any crime in connection with the contributions he extracted from Verizon, or in connection with a similarly secret $17 million donation from Peco Energy to Citizens' Alliance.

Bode remarks, "Fumo appears to have simply taken the state's 'normal' greasy dealings to an entirely new level."

Stay tuned. This is a broad investigation.

Of interest to some ISPs is this article: When a shady pol squeezes, where do you turn?.