WAYNESBURG, Pa. – In a 28-page complaint filed in the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court, the Greene County District Attorney said the county’s district attorney is guilty of “official oppression.”
He said the prosecutor has a history of using his office to charge his political opponents with crimes.
In the complaint, Robert Eugene Grimm said as the Greene County attorney, he was involved in several investigations into the alleged criminal acts and misconduct of District Attorney David Russo.
Those investigations include the arrest of several county 911 employees on “criminal process” charges without probable cause, their creation of a SWAT team without proper credentials, insurance, equipment and training, the prosecution of a former county despite a direct conflict of interest. , the alleged firing of an assistant prosecutor because of his age, and more.
Because of that, Grimm said he lived in fear of being arrested by Greene County detectives, under the direction of District Attorney David Russo, for more than 18 months.
He said his fear came true on April 4, 2023.
That’s when Grimm was charged with 16 misdemeanors. Those charges stemmed from complaints by several Republican candidates about how the Greene County elections office chose the order of candidates’ names on the upcoming primary election ballot.
They first did it on March 15, but it was pulled because they didn’t publish the date in two local newspapers.
They did the selection again about a week later.
Several candidates protested this selection, including Russo, and refused to draw a number when called. Allegedly, the decision was made to put these candidates at the bottom of the ballot.
Here’s where Russo’s name is on Tuesday’s Republican primary ballot for his re-election bid.
The case was turned over to the state Attorney General’s Office, which announced Wednesday that all charges against Grimm were dropped after its own investigation.
Grimm initially resigned as Greene County’s attorney when charges were filed.
Grimm’s complaint also describes other allegations of misconduct.
Channel 11’s Andrew Havranek left voicemails for both Grimm and Russo, but has yet to hear back.
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