John Dougherty, the politically powerful leader of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98, believes he is being punished by the federal government for above-board lobbying activities, according to court papers filed Thursday.

Dougherty—who along with seven co-defendants were charged in a 116-count federal indictment in January for allegedly conspiring to funnel money into a slush fund for the union boss—claimed in a motion to dismiss the indictment that no quid pro quo occurred between him and Philadelphia City Councilman Bobby Henon, who is accused of being Dougherty’s go-to politician for illicitly advancing the union’s agenda.