Lobbyist Phil Reale
Phil Reale, a prominent statehouse lobbyist and former chief of staff for Gov. Gaston Caperton, was arrested by Charleston Police in a prostitution sting this summer.
But as Dave reports in today’s Daily Mail, Reale’s name was left off a press release following the bust, and the charges were eventually dismissed. Sgt. Bobby Eggleton said the omission was intentional. He said Reale was extremely distraught, even suicidal.
Charleston City Attorney Paul Ellis said the charges were dismissed without prejudice, meaning the case could be reopened if Reale finds himself in more legal trouble.
Click here to read the full story.
Charleston Mayor Danny Jones held a press conference Tuesday morning about Reale’s arrest, requesting the charges be refiled.
In other news…
- Sen. Joe Manchin is hopeful Congress will soon come to an agreement on the federal government shutdown and the looming debt ceiling.
- Three Republican members of the House Transportation Committee, disappointed with the recommendations of Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin‘s Blue Ribbon Commission on Highways, will travel to Virginia this week to study how the Old Dominion funds its road construction projects.
