MIDDLEBURG — Tom Marino, Republican candidate for Congress, has changed his story six months after he told a Wilkes-Barre talk radio reporter that he had gotten permission from his superiors in the U.S. Department of Justice before lending his name as a reference for a convicted felon who was seeking a casino license.
Marino on Monday said he never asked for permission from the federal agency because it was understood he would be allowed to provide personal references to anyone as long as he didn’t use his job title or attempt to promote individuals on his staff.
He also denied that he had ever claimed that he received, or could provide, written authorization from the Justice Department allowing him to give a personal reference to former casino operator Louis DeNaples.
“I did it all the time,” he said, of providing personal references.
His comments this week contradict comments Marino made in an April interview with WILK Radio host Steve Corbett in which Marino said he received permission before serving as a reference for Denaples.
A recording of the interview is posted on the radio station’s Web site at: http://audio.wilknewsradio.com/m/audio/30617147/tom-marino-10th-district-congressional-candidate-talks-to-corbett.htm.
In that interview, Corbett asks:“Did you have to tell any of your supervisors that you were acting as a reference?” “Yes,” Marino said.
“And did you?” “Yes,” Marino said.
Corbett then asked Marino what the response was from the Department of Justice, and Marino replied that “it was nothing out of the ordinary.”
Following that exchange, Corbett said he followed up the interview by asking Marino’s staff for written documentation that Marino had received permission to serve as a reference. Corbett said a Marino staffer promised to get him that documentation but never did.
On Monday, Marino said there was never written authorization from the Department of Justice.
“The radio personality made it up. There is no letter,” Marino said.
Corbett stands behind his reporting.
The controversy erupted two weeks ago when the Associated Press reported that Department of Justice sources indicated that Marino had never gotten permission to be a reference for DeNaples, who was convicted in 1978 of cheating the federal government of more than $500,000.
At the time, Marino was serving as a U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
He is running against incumbent Democrat Chris Carney, of Dimock, in the 10th Congressional District. The district includes Montour, Northumberland, Union and Snyder counties.
News
Marino changes story
- News
-
-
Fire destroys $60G cottage in Union County
WINFIELD — A fire swept through a Winfield home while its occupants were at work Tuesday.
-
2013 Primary Election - Top Races
Unofficial primary election returns
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY
Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts
Republican
Justin R. Dunkelberger 2,744
Jamie Saleski 2,124100 percent reporting
Magisterial District Judge
08-3-02, Milton
Republican
Larry Redington 496
Mike Diehl 684
Lisa A. Riley 328
Seth M. Cotner 132
Democrat
Larry Regington 182
Seth M. Cotner 90
Mike Diehl 221Lisa A. Riley 218
100 percent reporting
Sunbury Mayor
Republican
Julie Brosius 200
David L. Persing 378100 percent reporting
Sunbury Treasurer
Republican
Stanley E. Geiswhite 176
Kevin E. Troup 388
100 percent reportingUNION COUNTY
County Coroner
Republican
Tod M. Steese 542
Dominick T. Adamo 1,04963 percent reporting
Gregg Township
Alcohol Sales: Do you favor the granting of liquor license for the sale of liquor in the Township of Gregg?
Yes 82
No 72
100 percent reporting -
Midd-West adopts preliminary budget
Faced with a firm deadline in which to adopt a preliminary budget for 2013-14, the Midd-West school board reversed its vote late Monday night and approved the $32.85 million plan.
-
Crews dig through night after deadly Oklahoma tornado
MOORE, Okla. — Spotlights bore down on massive piles of shredded cinder block, insulation and metal as crews worked through the night lifting bricks and parts of collapsed walls where a monstrous tornado barreled through the Oklahoma City suburbs, demolishing an elementary school and reducing homes to piles of splintered wood.
-
10 Things to Know for Today
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
-
Police file attempted homicide charge in baseball bat attack
FREEBURG - A Freeburg man, who allegedly attacked two people less than a week after he was released on bail, is now facing attempted homicide charges, according to police.
-
Driver, boy, 6, hurt in Route 15 crash
LEWISBURG — A 61-year-old Milton woman and a 6-year-old boy were hurt Monday night when their vehicle hit a guide rail and a concrete barrier before overturning on Route 15, state police at Milton said.
-
Sunbury hospital's operating margin among worst in state
SUNBURY — Sunbury Community Hospital’s 2012 operating margin was among the worst in the state, according to a new report examining the fiscal health of the state’s hospitals.
-
Sunbury woman gets 9-23 months in cocaine sales
SUNBURY — A Sunbury woman will report to the Northumberland County Prison on June 3 for a nine- to 23-month stint for her part in a cocaine ring that police said saw her earning $900 a week from sales.
-
Jodi Arias trial wraps for day after series of motions
PHOENIX — Defense attorneys for Jodi Arias asked the judge to remove them from the case and declare a mistrial Monday, arguing the frenzy surrounding the case has created a modern-day witch hunt.
-
U.S. Sen. Casey wants federal probe of fiery tanker crash
HARRISBURG — U.S. Senator Bob Casey wants federal regulators to investigate a fiery tanker crash that caused serious damage at the interchange of Interstate 81 and U.S. Routes 22/322 near Harrisburg.
-
Federal judge weighs fate of governor's lawsuit against NCAA
HARRISBURG — A federal judge in Pennsylvania says she’ll decide in the next couple weeks whether to dismiss Gov. Tom Corbett’s antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA over penalties against Penn State.
-
Today's Top Videos
-
Police Log
A daily roundup of police news from around the region.
-
Second person reported dead following Oklahoma tornado on Sunday
SHAWNEE, Okla. — Oklahoma’s state medical examiner’s office says a second person was killed by a tornado that leveled a central Oklahoma mobile home park.
-
One person killed, four hurt when van and taxi collide in Monroe County
TOBYHANNA — Authorities say a taxi driver was killed and four firefighters were hurt when the cab crashed into a fire police van in northeastern Pennsylvania.
-
Pennsylvania woman charged with texting before fatal crash
NEW CASTLE — A western Pennsylvania woman has been charged with text-messaging while driving in connection with a crash earlier this month that killed a former volunteer fire chief.
-
Danville man seriously injured in Montour County motorcycle crash
DANVILLE - A Danville man is listed in critical condition today at Geisinger Medical Center following a motorcycle accident Sunday afternoon in Montour County.
- More News Headlines
-
Fire destroys $60G cottage in Union County
