Despite Richard Ireland’s success in avoiding a bribery conviction in March, white-collar attorneys said it was a “sensible” move for former Pennsylvania Treasurer Barbara Hafer to plead guilty to one count of lying to federal agents about consulting fees she received from the Chester County businessman.
Hafer, 73, was charged in July 2016 with two counts of lying to FBI and IRS agents about $675,000 in consulting fees she received from Ireland, who was himself charged for allegedly making “secret campaign contributions” to indicted former state Treasurer Rob McCord and promising to put McCord on his “payroll” in exchange for McCord’s decision to invest millions in state money into businesses affiliated with Ireland. Ireland was acquitted midtrial in March after McCord, the government’s star witness, failed to present any evidence on the stand of an explicit bribery scheme.
