The local Democrats are really climbing up a tree trying to "get" Santorum.
thepittsburghchannel.com
Capitol Police Visit Santorum's Penn Hills Home
POSTED: 5:41 pm EDT May 24, 2006
UPDATED: 11:51 am EDT May 26, 2006
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PENN HILLS, Pa. -- On Wednesday, Capitol Police agent dispatched from Washington spent nearly 90 minutes doing a security check on Sen. Rick Santorum's Penn Hill's house.
"Why would he call Capitol Police when we have Penn Hills police right here? If he's a resident of Penn Hills, why didn't he call the Penn Hills police? And for his kids to be in danger? That's a big joke because his kids are never in this house," Santorum critic Erin Vecchio said.
Related: Santorum Responds To Challenges Over Penn Hills Home
This is the latest twist in Santorum's long-running clash with a local Democratic couple that Santorum accuses of trespassing and peeking into windows in a bid to prove he doesn't really live there.
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"The fact is, that we never stepped foot on that property. I put a challenge out to Rick, saying that I would take a lie detector test if he would take a lie detector test if he ever lived in that house," Vecchio said.
Vecchio is the Penn Hills Democratic chairwoman whose husband was quoted in news reports as saying Santorum's home was emptied of furniture and had no curtains until days ago.
The Santorum campaign launched radio ads describing the couple as operatives of his Democratic opponent Bob Casey, stalking the senator's home and children.
Vecchio was also the Penn Hills School Board member who tried to force Santorum to repay the district thousands of dollars it had to pay for his kids' cyber schooling.
"We never went on that property. His whole issue with me is pay back Penn Hills the money that you owe us and I'll go away," Vecchio said.
Santorum's staff said the Capitol Police visit was to ensure the safety and security of the Santorum family home. They said, "It is extremely disappointing that because of hardball politics, we have come to this."
The Casey campaign said Santorum's accusations lack any credibility and that he should repay Penn Hills taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars for not living in the district.
Channel 4 Action News heard neighbors take both sides of the fight.
Mark Hawkins, a family friend, said. "When Rick's in, not doing his job … this is where is family is. I mean, this is where he is."
Neighbor Don Gingery said, "The place has been empty for three or four months."
"Empty? How do you know?" asked Channel 4 Action News reporter Bob Mayo.
"I live right here," Gingery said. |
