3 Sisters Convicted of Corruption With State Funds in Pennsylvania, ‘It’s All Pretty Unbelievable’

3 sisters from western Pennsylvania were convicted for corruption. They were well known for their careers and life stories. The 3 sisters who hae been convicted come from a devout Catholic family of 9 children who all grew up to be accomplished.

Joan Orie Melvin became a state Supreme Court Justice. Janine Orie was her loyal aide. Third sister became the state Senate majority whip.

The suspended state Supreme Court Justice Jean Orie Melvin and her sister Janine Orie were convicted of campaign corruption charges. Which means they might join a third sister former state Senator Jane Orie in state prison.

The 3 sisters are accused of misusing state funds to further their political careers, according to the Associated Press. Last year the former senator was sentenced to 2½ to 10 years for using her state-paid staff to run her campaigns. Her two sisters while convicted in a spinoff investigation and found they were similarly misusing Melvin's former staff and senator's.

"It's all pretty unbelievable," John Burkoff, a university of Pittsburgh law professor, said of the 3 sisters convicted. "Whatever you thought about the Orie sisters, whether you liked or didn't like them, you have to look at all of this as tragic."

The Ories have argued the prosecution is the result of a political vendetta by Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. in Pitsburgh who has repeatedly denied ulterior motives.

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