A Republican, Dwyer served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1965 to 1970, the Pennsylvania Senate from 1970 to 1980, and as state treasurer from 1980 until his death. He graduated from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania. He went on to get his master's degree in education and taught social studies and coached American football at Cambridge Springs High School.
Controversy and conviction
During the early 1980s, employees of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania overpaid millions of dollars in FICA taxes. As a result, the Commonwealth began requesting bids for the task of calculating refunds to each employee.
One firm, California-based Computer Technology Associates, was owned by a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania native named John Torquato Jr.. Torquato used his Harrisburg-area connections and a series of bribes to obtain the contract, worth $4.6 million. An anonymous memo then reached the governor's office, describing the bribes that had taken place.
In late 1986, Dwyer was charged as having agreed to accept a related kickback of $300,000. Dwyer never actually received any money.
A plea bargain was made for Torquato and Dauphin County Republican Party Chairman William Smith (Torquato's attorney) as well as Smith's wife, which required them to testify against Dwyer. This coupled with the government's refusal to name unindicted co-conspirators in the case, made it difficult for Dwyer to defend himself, though the unindicted co-conspirators are believed to have been Republican staffers who ran the Dauphin County Republican Party. During this time, the local United States Attorney offered Dwyer a plea bargain that carried a five year maximum sentence in exchange for a one-count guilty plea, resignation, and cooperation in the investigation.[1] Dwyer refused the offer, and was later convicted but continued to vehemently protest his innocence. Under state law, Dwyer would continue to serve as state treasurer until his sentencing of possibly up to 55 years in prison and a fine of $300,000.
Public suicide
On January 22, 1987, the day before his sentencing, Dwyer called a press conference to "provide an update on the situation." Many expected Dwyer to announce his resignation from office.
At the conference, an agitated and nervous Dwyer once again professed his innocence, and declared that he would not resign as state treasurer. Those attending would hear his final words:
"I thank the good Lord for giving me 47 years of exciting challenges, stimulating experiences, many happy occasions, and, most of all, the finest wife and children any man could ever desire.
"Now my life has changed, for no apparent reason. People who call and write are exasperated and feel helpless. They know I'm innocent and want to help. But in this nation, the world's greatest democracy, there is nothing they can do to prevent me from being punished for a crime they know I did not commit. Some who have called have said that I am a modern day Job.
"Judge Muir is also noted for his medieval sentences. I face a maximum sentence of 55 years in prison and a $300,000 fine for being innocent. Judge Muir has already told the press that he, quote, 'felt invigorated' when we were found guilty, and that he plans to imprison me as a deterrent to other public officials. But it wouldn't be a deterrent because every public official who knows me knows that I am innocent — it wouldn't be a legitimate punishment because I've done nothing wrong. Since I'm a victim of political persecution, my prison would simply be an American gulag.
"I ask those that believe in me to continue to extend friendship and prayer to my family, to work untiringly for the creation of a true justice system here in the United States, and to press on with the efforts to vindicate me, so that my family and their future families are not tainted by this injustice that has been perpetrated on me.
"We were confident that right and truth would prevail, and I would be acquitted and we would devote the rest of our lives working to create a justice system here in the United States. The guilty verdict has strengthened that resolve. But as we've discussed our plans to expose the warts of our legal system, people have said, 'Why Bother,' 'No One Cares,' 'You'll Look Foolish,' 60 Minutes, 20/20, the American Civil Liberties Union, Jack Anderson and others have been publicizing cases like yours for years, and it doesn't bother anyone..."
At this point Dwyer stopped with his prepared text and called to three of his staffers, giving each an envelope. One contained a suicide note to his wife, a second was an organ donor card and other related materials, and a third was a letter to Pennsylvania Governor Bob Casey, who had been inaugurated just two days before.
After handing out the envelopes, Dwyer opened a fourth large manila envelope and withdrew a .357 Magnum revolver, advising those in the crowd to "Please leave the room if this will offend you." Those in attendance cried out to Dwyer, pleading with him to put the gun down. Some tried to approach him. "Stay away, this thing will hurt someone," he warned.[2] Those were his final words. Amid the cry of "Budd, Budd, Budd," Dwyer put the gun barrel into his mouth, pulled the trigger, and collapsed on the floor bleeding, in front of five live television news cameras. Medical crews immediately arrived and treated Dwyer's hopeless injuries, which he succumbed to at 11:31 a.m. at Harrisburg Hospital.[3] |
