Scandal-Plagued Dem House Rep. Bob Brady To Retire

Philadelphia’s ABC affiliate reports:

Rep. Bob Brady of Philadelphia, a plainspoken former carpenter and cheerleader for the city, will not seek another term in Congress, giving up the seat he’s held for two decades, his office said Wednesday.Brady revealed the news to reporters and Democratic Party ward leaders in Philadelphia, his hometown and the city where he has been the longtime Democratic Party leader. His decision comes amid an FBI corruption investigation involving Brady’s campaign.

The FBI last year filed charges against four people in an investigation into a payment Brady’s campaign made to a primary opponent in 2012. Three people have pleaded guilty, including a political consultant to Brady. Brady’s campaign gave a city judge who challenged him in the 2012 primary $90,000 to quit the race, according to the plea memo unsealed after the judge’s campaign aide pleaded guilty to breaking campaign finance laws. Brady has not been charged.

Six House seats will now be up for grabs in Pennsylvania. Four Republicans are retiring and one, Rep. Lou Barletta, is surrendering his seat to challenge Democratic  Sen. Bob Casey.