Jurors Blast Fumo After Verdict

PHILADELPHIA - A jury on Monday found former Pennsylvania State Senator Vince Fumo guilty of all 137 counts.

The long-powerful Philadelphia Democrat was charged with defrauding the Senate, a charity and a museum of $3.5 million, and with destroying evidence.

Jurors blasted Fumo's own testimony, when he compared his excesses to spitting on the sidewalk and said his only obligation as a senator was to show up and vote.

"How dare he!" exclaimed juror Kimm Guckin, of Levittown. "You're in the public eye. You had an obligation to a lot of people."

Fumo aide Ruth Arnao was found guilty as well. She was facing 45 counts.

The jury deliberated for about six days after a five-month trial that was nearly derailed at the last minute by a juror who made postings about the case on the Twitter and Facebook social networking Web sites.

Fumo, 65, embraced his distraught college-age daughter and his girlfriend after the verdict. He described himself as "just heartbroken." 

The South Philadelphia native earned millions of dollars as a lawyer and banking heir but insisted on using what he called OPM -- other people's money -- to run his four homes, pay for annual yacht trips and even buy his preferred brand of hairspray, witnesses said.

In one telling anecdote, Fumo acknowledged on the stand that Senate staffers once bought the $17 hairspray and FedExed it to him at his waterfront estate in Florida, all at state expense.

Defense lawyer Dennis Cogan said the case is far from over. He said he plans to appeal the judge's decision to keep juror Eric Wuest on the panel despite his online postings.

"We're obviously disappointed, but the process continues," Cogan said.

Wuest had posted a Facebook message Friday that said to expect "a big announcement on Monday." That prompted a closed-door meeting early Monday involving Wuest, the judge and lawyers in the case. The defense wanted him dismissed, calling the deliberations "tainted."

Fumo's attorneys say Wuest should have been kicked off the jury, a theory that will no doubt play a big part in their appeal.

Fox 29 spoke with Wuest on Monday night.

Five months ago, Wuest said he didn't even know who Fumo was.

Since then, he said, he has learned a lot about political corruption, to say nothing of the need to keep his Facebook page private.

He also told Fox 29 he thought his Twitter and Facebook posts were perfectly innocent and just an expression of his happiness the case was almost over.

A judge has set bail at $2 million for the former power broker after his conviction in a sweeping corruption case.

Fumo had to post his Philadelphia mansion and three other properties to secure the bail while he awaits sentencing.

Fumo faces at least 10 years in prison if prosecutors suggest standard sentencing guidelines in the case.