Author Archive: Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA
Spotlight PA, Inquirer Sue to Unseal Records in Ex-Democratic State Lawmaker’s Embezzlement Case
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Five years after former State Rep. Leslie Acosta quietly pleaded guilty in an embezzlement scheme, much of the case against her remains under a shroud of secrecy.
Wolf Administration Refuses to Release Details After Failure Derails Pa. Clergy Sex Abuse Relief
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Wolf administration had no system in place to prevent an apparent administrative mistake like the one that derailed a statewide vote on legal recourse for survivors of decades-old sexual abuse, Spotlight PA has learned.
There’s Another Path for Survivors of Clergy Sex Abuse to Get Justice. It Faces an Uphill Climb in the Legislature.
HARRISBURG, Pa. — When Republican state Rep. Jim Gregory learned Monday from Gov. Tom Wolf that an administrative error will delay a decision on whether survivors can sue for decades-old sexual abuse, he broke down and sobbed uncontrollably.
A Pa. Dept. of State Error Means Some Sex-Abuse Victims Will Again Have to Wait for Justice
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s top election official will resign after her agency made a mistake that will delay a statewide vote on whether survivors of decades-old sexual abuse should be able to sue the perpetrators and institutions that covered up the crimes.
Acting Pa. Victim Advocate Resigns After Rejection by GOP-Led Senate
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s chief advocate for crime victims announced Friday that she will resign her position, saying it was “untenable” to remain in the high-profile job amid a political feud with legislative Republicans.
As He Seeks to Overturn Pa.’s Election, Trump Invites GOP Senators to White House Lunch
HARRISBURG, Pa. — As he seeks to overturn Pennsylvania’s election results in the courts, President Donald Trump invited Republican members of the GOP-controlled state Senate to a Wednesday lunch at the White House.
‘Mistakes Were Made’ at Maskless Election Hearing Held by COVID-Positive Lawmaker, Pa. Senate Leader Says
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The top Republican in the Pennsylvania Senate acknowledged Wednesday “mistakes were made” and necessary coronavirus safety precautions were ignored during a controversial public hearing in Gettysburg last week on unsubstantiated claims of election fraud.
Pa. Victim Advocate Claims Senate Rejection was ‘Vindictive,’ Could Remain on the Job for Weeks or Longer
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Despite a Senate vote denying her another six years in office, Pennsylvania Victim Advocate Jennifer Storm could remain on the job for weeks — and possibly longer.
U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Expedite Pa. Mail Ballot Case, But Could Still Intervene
HARRISBURG, Pa. – The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an eleventh-hour plea by Pennsylvania Republicans to strike down a three-day extension for counties to accept mail ballots, but has left open the possibility that it will hear the case and that those votes might not ultimately be counted.
Counties Cannot Reject Mail Ballots Because of Mismatched Signatures, Pa. Supreme Court Rules
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Counties cannot reject mail-in and absentee ballots if a voter’s signature on the outer envelope does not match what’s on file, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Friday, making drawn-out challenges on Election Day less likely.
