Jury selected in Johnny Doc, Bobby Henon bribery trial

Johnny Dougherty has held a tight grip on construction jobs in the Philadelphia region during more than two decades at the helm of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which has nearly 5,000 members. He also leads the city’s Buildings Trades Council, an umbrella group of local unions with 70,000 members.

PHILADELPHIA - Powerful Philadelphia labor leader Johnny "Doc" Dougherty went on trial Monday in a City Hall corruption case that accuses him of City Councilman Bobby Henon on the union payroll to push his agenda.

Dougherty, 61, who has steered more than $30 million in union funds to political candidates, faces a later extortion trial over other union activities. He expressed confidence that he would clear his name as he arrived for jury selection Monday at the federal courthouse.

"I have had zero crimes," Dougherty told FOX 29’s Jeff Cole outside the courthouse, making a zero with his hand for emphasis. "So this is a relief. I can’t wait to get in and get this done."

Jury selection was completed Monday in the long-delayed trial that is expected to last five to six weeks.

Dougherty had been in the FBI’s sights for years before the 2019 indictment charged him with more than 100 crimes, including keeping City Council member Bobby Henon in a $70,000-a-year union job while he worked full time in the $140,000-a-year City Council post.

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Dougherty has held a tight grip on construction jobs in the Philadelphia region during more than two decades at the helm of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which has nearly 5,000 members. He also leads the city’s Buildings Trades Council, an umbrella group of local unions with 70,000 members.

As an example, according to the indictment, Dougherty pressed Comcast Corp. to steer $2 million worth of electrical work to a friend as the media giant negotiated the renewal of the city’s 15-year cable lease; pressured Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to have union workers install MRI machines; and had Henon investigate a towing company that seized Dougherty’s car.

The union mostly backs Democratic candidates, but has also supported Republicans at times.

John Dougherty, IBEW Local 98 leader, accused of threatening contractor in federal indictment

John Dougherty, IBEW Local 98 leader, is accused of threatening a contractor with 'economic harm' in a federal indictment that was unsealed Wednesday.

Henon, a Democrat and former union electrician, has remained on the City Council since the 2019 indictment. Both he and Dougherty face 13 counts, including conspiracy and honest services fraud, and a maximum 20-year sentence on the most serious charge. Both have pleaded not guilty and remain free on bond.

Federal prosecutors say Dougherty "put his own self-interests over that of the membership."

However, defense lawyer Henry E. Hockeimer, in a 2019 statement, said Dougherty has put all of his energy into the union and called it "preposterous" to say he tried to defraud it.

The indictment also alleges Dougherty used union credit cards to buy groceries and household goods and to splurge on restaurants, and let others in his orbit do the same. He allegedly used union funds to pay contractors for work at his South Philadelphia home and bar. He also put friends and family members on the union's payroll, showering them with raises and overtime for hours they didn't work and using them to do personal tasks, prosecutors said.

Henon, a Democrat, has remained on council while under indictment. He has pleaded not guilty and remains free on bond.

In Oct. 2020, the FBI conducted another raid of union headquarters, about a week after it was announced the bribery trial involving Dougherty and Henon had been postponed.

Dougherty's representatives last Friday filed for a continuation, which would have delayed the start of the trial. That motion was quickly struck down by Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl.

Jury selection begins Monday in Johnny Doc, Bobby Henon bribery trial

Federal prosecutors allege powerful union boss John "Johnny Doc" Dougherty bought Philadelphia Councilmember Bobby Henon's vote and used the power of his office to stop his opponents and enact policy in his favor.