On February 6, a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania jury convicted State Representative H. William DeWeese of using state resources to work on partisan political activity during the period 2000-2006. DeWeese was in the Democratic leadership in the House during those years. He directed staff to use government employees and government computers to help challenge the 2004 petition of Ralph Nader, and the 2006 statewide Green Party petition. See this story. DeWeese is currently in the legislature, and has been a state legislator since he was elected in a special election in May, 1976.

It is possible this conviction will have some relevance to Ralph Nader’s pending lawsuit against the Democratic National Committee and its allies, over what was done by Democrats to Nader ballot access efforts in 2004. The Maine Supreme Court is still considering Nader’s lawsuit. Also a District of Columbia appeals court is still considering whether to force a Washington, D.C. bank to turn over Nader’s funds to his Democratic 2004 challengers.