Local lobbyist John Raphael announced today that he has taken full responsibility for all improper dealings and interactions with Redflex officials that have been the target of investigation this summer. Allegations and accusations of the bribery of public officials have been discussed at length this summer, which Raphael denied in his written statement.
“Contrary to the public reports and rumors that have circulated about me over the past several months, there are no charges that have been brought against me for bribery or public corruption or conspiracy to do these things,” he said.”At no time was there ever any bribe offered or asked for by anyone or concerning anything.
Instead Raphael explained that he is guilty of the charge of “interference with commerce by threats”.
“After a lengthy investigation, this is what I’ve been charged with and this is what I am pleading guilty to,” he stated. “Through personal communications and actions, I pressured Redflex executives to make contributions to city officials. They apparently believed that they would lose their contracts with the city or their desire to expand said contract if they did not make the contributions. I did make statements that led them to reach the above conclusion and I accept responsibility for that. Of course, it was a factual impossibility for me to affect a city contract in this way but Redflex apparently did not understand that fact.”
Raphael said that the contributions he received from Redflex were passed on, but under other names.
“Redflex wanted it done that way as they told me that was their ‘practice’,” he explained. “I agreed to do what they wanted. I had done this previously with another client who didn’t want his name listed as a contributor. I understand what I did was wrong and I regret I used this procedure.”
According to the FBI, “interference with commerce by threats” is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
The contract between Redflex and The City of Columbus was officially ended in June although City Attorney Rick Pfeiffer stated in July that the contract was in compliance with city code.
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