“I’m glad it’s over. I’m going to take full responsibility.”
That’s what former Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) union leader John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty uttered on his way into a Reading courtroom on Thursday morning to face sentencing after being convicted of embezzling thousands from his own union.
But, it remains to be seen if he still feels that way as he’s now been sentenced to serve six years in prison for bribery and theft.
John Dougherty was convicted of bribing a City Council member and embezzling nearly $600,000 from the powerful electricians’ union.
Known as “Johnny Doc,” Dougherty ran that union for nearly three decades and was a Democratic power broker in Pennsylvania politics, steering tens of millions in union campaign contributions to candidates for office.
“I’m here to take full responsibility. It’s embarrassing. I’m sick,” the Associated Press quoted Dougherty telling the judge …