Update: 12.1.12

AP reports former state Senator Robert Mellow was sentenced to 16 months in prison and ordered to pay $120K in fines and restitution.

Archive Video April 2012.

Senator Mellow's portrait hangs in the Capitol Hall along with three other convicted or admitted felons---former Speakers of the PA House, H. William DeWeese, John Prezel, and Herbert Fineman.

Former Senator Robert Mellow is scheduled to plead guilty on Friday, April 27, 2012 in the William J. Nealon Federal Courthouse in Scranton, PA.

Today the PA Ethics Commission issued this final adjudication order: "The Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission has issued a final adjudication in the following matter under The Ethics Law.

HARRISBURG, PA -Order No. 1598 (MELLOW) Pennsylvania State Senator, 22nd Senatorial District, Lackawanna, Luzerne & Monroe County, Pennsylvania.

ORDER SUMMARY: As a Pennsylvania State Senator, Robert Mellow's actions in 2007 in authorizing the continuation of a Senate lease regarding the location of his senatorial district office from Brad, Inc., a business with which he was associated in 2007, when his divorce was finalized, resulted in a transgression of Section 1103(a) of the Pubic Official and Employee Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. ? 1103(a). Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Mellow is directed to make payment in the amount of $21,000.00 payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and forwarded to the State Ethics Commission by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of the Commission?s Order. Mellow is further directed to not accept any reimbursement, compensation or other payment from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania representing a full or partial reimbursement of the amount paid in settlement of this matter."

Senator Mellow's portrait hangs in the Capitol Hall along with three other convicted or admitted felons---former Speakers of the PA House, H. William DeWeese, John Prezel, and Herbert Fineman.

Archive Video:

On April 3, 2012, Mayor Linda Thompson filed a suit against City Controller Dan Miller in regard to a contract with Guernsey's Auction House to sell Harrisburg's collection of artifacts. Miller says the contract must be verified by City Council. The Mayor says City Council does not have to verify it because there was a public bid process. Thompson announced, "Council has nothing to do with this," and proceeded to stress the power issues ensuing between the Mayor's Office and the Controller's Office. Most interesting, though, is a question to Thompson about the 18% commission Guernsey's will take from the sale of the artifacts. Couldn't this rate have been better negotiated? The Mayor replies, "Absolutely not." Buyers beware--for every $100,000 lot, buyers will pay an additional premium of 22%. If a lot goes over $100,000, the rate goes down to 15%. That's money right from the buyer to the Auction House and according to the Mayor, doesn't cost the City any proceeds. Harrisburg is just committed to paying the commission fees. Also per Guernsey's contract, the City must produce documents that show the authenticity of the artifacts to be sold.--Tara Leo Auchey

Harrisburg City Council member Brad Koplinski describes his bill to move the sale of Harrisburg's western artifacts, Mayor Thompson brushes off the action by stating. "The legislation your talking about will have no impact."

Photo Natalie Cake

Harrisburg Mayor Thompson comments on the lawsuit filed on her behalf April 3, 2012 against Controller Miller, the court action is a Complaint in Mandamus to compel Miller to sign a consignment agreement agreement with Guernsey's auctioneers for the sale of western artifacts purchased by former mayor Steve Reed.

On November 15th Judge Bernard L. Coates, Jr, granted the Mandamus order and on November 27th Controller Miller filed a Notice of Appeal as well as a Emergency Motion for Stay Pending Appeal.

Mayor Thompson called Controller Miller's actions "Defiant" and went on to say "He's grossly disrespecting the court." and "This is politically motivated, you know he can't accept the fact the judge ruled against him, and now he wants to try to save face with whatever constituent base he has out there."

When Thompson was asked about the possibility of contempt charges she replied "Anytime you don't honor a judges order your in contempt, and right now he's in contempt, you know, of the judges order cause he hasn't filed his appeal yet so right now he's in contempt."

Controller Miller's Notice of Appeal and Emergency Motion for Stay were filed Tuesday November 27th one day before this interview.

Photo/Natalie Cake