Lawmaker pleads guilty in double-deduction refund case

Former Pennsylvania state lawmaker accused of falsifying and doubling state House of Representatives and campaign expense reimbursements pleaded guilty this week, state attorney general’s office said .
Margo Davidson pleaded guilty Thursday in Dauphin County court to five counts, including theft, the office said.
All are misdemeanors, but the guilty plea bars Davidson from taking public office in Pennsylvania again, he said.
“With his actions Davidson has betrayed both his constituents and his oath,” Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a statement. “Today is further proof that no one is above the law and that everyone who holds office in Pennsylvania is accountable to the law and to the people. “
Davidson, 59, a Democrat from Delaware County, was the minority chair of the busy state government committee when she was indicted in July. She quickly resigned her seat.
The attorney general’s office accused Davidson of being reimbursed for hotel stays, parking, tolls and gasoline both by his campaign and by the House from 2015 to 2019, and for asking for refunds for hotel stays that never took place.
He also accused her of asking an anonymous witness to lie to investigators.
Davidson was first elected in 2010 and was in her fifth term.