“The jury pool, even if not overtly biased, is bound to be a crucible of contrasting opinions on unions and the defendant,” noted Jonathan K. Osborne, an observer of the case. “Both sides must grapple with this duality, as people can be fervently pro- or anti-union.”
Dougherty’s Former Allies in the Crosshairs
After a 2019 indictment, the case was dissected into multiple parts for trial. In the first installment, Dougherty and Philadelphia Councilman Bobby Henon were found guilty in 2021 of bribery and theft of honest services. This conviction was rooted in the $70,000-a-year, no-show job Dougherty offered Henon in exchange for council votes favoring the union.
Now, the focus shifts to allegations of Dougherty, Burrows, and their cohorts embezzling funds from the union’s coffers, using union-issued credit cards for personal splurges, paying union-affiliated contractors for personal projects, and commandeering union resources for their own enjoyment. Some of Dougherty and Burrows’ co-conspirators have already caved and pleaded guilty, fueling speculation that they may testify against the duo, aiming to shift blame and reduce their own sentences.
