State Treasurer Rob McCord will plead guilty to federal charges he tried to compel two potential donors to give to his campaign or risk any business they had with the commonwealth, he said Friday.
In a video statement distributed by his lawyer, McCord says his resignation planned for mid-February will now be effective immediately.
“I stepped over the line by trying to take advantage of the fact that two potential contributors hoped to continue to do business with the commonwealth, and by developing talking points to remind them that I could make things difficult for them,” said McCord. The statement was dated January 30.
The campaign shakedowns happened during McCord’s unsuccessful bid to become governor as he raised money in the four-way Democratic primary.
His attorney says reports claiming theft or misuse of campaign funds are false.
McCord had announced Thursday in a written statement that he would resign mid-way through his second term as treasurer. Hours later, several news outlets began reporting that he was the subject of a federal investigation.
In a written statement, Governor Tom Wolf said he would act “quickly” to nominate a replacement to serve the remainder of McCord’s term.
