Fumo ally to testify for prosecution

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, June, 2008 | by Emilie Lounsberry Inquirer Staff Writer

A longtime confidant of State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo's pleaded guilty yesterday to tax evasion and, in a move that could get him a break at sentencing, agreed to testify as a prosecution witness during Fumo's corruption trial. Howard J. Cain, 59, a political strategist and veteran of more than 80 campaigns, admitted that he had neither filed a federal tax return since 1991 nor paid any federal taxes on more than $1 million of income from 1997 through 2006.

His defense lawyer, Peter J. Scuderi, said that it had been a "difficult decision" for Cain to cooperate against Fumo, but that he had "sworn to tell the truth" as a cooperating witness. "He is guilty, and he realizes he was wrong, and he intends to testify truthfully in court," Scuderi told reporters outside the U.S....