Pennsylvania state Treasurer Rob McCord (D) announced on Friday that he would resign immediately from his position, and will plead guilty to federal charges that he extorted campaign donors.
McCord used his position as treasurer to strong-arm potential donors into contributing to his failed primary campaign for governor, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
He apologized in a video statement on Friday, and explained his wrongdoing.
“I stepped over the line by trying to take advantage of the fact that two potential contributors hoped to continued to do business with the Commonwealth. And by developing talking points to remind them that I could make things difficult for them, I essentially said the potential contributors should not risk making an enemy of the state treasurer,” McCord said. “Clearly, that was wrong. I was wrong. It was a mistake. I stand ready to pay the price for that mistake.”
Robert Welsh, McCord’s attorney, said that charges could be filed against McCord as early as this week, according to PennLive. However, it’s not clear what the exact charges will be.
McCord’s chief of staff, Christopher Craig, will serve as interim treasurer until Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) appoints a successor.
Wolf thanked McCord for his service in a Friday statement.
“Treasurer Rob McCord has honorably and diligently served the people of Pennsylvania. In the past six years, Treasurer McCord has saved our commonwealth over a billion dollars by modernizing the Treasury Department, expanding innovative programs for our citizens, and protecting Pennsylvania’s best interests,” Wolf said.
Watch McCord’s video statement via Pittsburgh TV station WTAE:
