including this man political consultant mike fleck shook down vendors for $150,000 in cash for various efforts. fleck admitted his guilt and in the social media video posted today the mayor had this to say about fleck. >> i however deeply regret inputting my faith in mike fleck a liar, he was my former campaign manager and friend. >> he did not do anything quid pro quo. jack mcmahon is his lawyer and they say they wore wires when meeting with wires. is the defense worried about recordings, we'll listen to them when they come. >> i'm not concerned bought i don't believe the mayor has ever done anything and there will be nothing on recordings that will indicate he did any of the actions that they say. >> well, the mayor is in the middle of a political campaign for a fourth term and appears up beat today as we were talking to him. he said that he actually looks forward to having his day in court to refute the federal charges. live in center city, john rawlins, channel 6 "action news." >> thank you. >> in washington the showdown over health care continues in the senate. now up for debate i

six have plead guilty including his one time consultant mike fleck.aluator from her job when she did not favor the company the mayor wants because it was willing to pay to play. >> they destroyed her score

and last year his political consultant mike fleck plead guilty to extortion. and they are not about to abandon the 50-year-old mayor running for a fourth term. >> are you presumed innocent until proven guilty. >> well, as of last night pawlowski was signalling indicted or not he was not going to step down or resign and tough it out and stay in office and continue his re-election bid. while we'll have the announcement today by the feds in an hour's time, as far as the indictment is concerned. mr. pawlowski scheduled a news conference to answer charges and talk to reporters. john rawlins, channel 6 "action news." >> thank you. >>> well, neighbors said it sounded like an earthquake when part of a home in philadelphia came crashing down today and there were two people inside of the house at the time of the collapse. it happened at 4:45 on the south block of ruby street. firefighters helped to rescue a couple inside. the woman heard creaking and came to the stairs and the man was lying on the sofa and the cat started to act strangely. miraculously neither was serio

six have plead guilty including his one time consultant mike fleck. they claimed that he removed an honest bid evaluator from her job when she did not favor the company the mayor wants because it was willing to pay to play. >> they destroyed her score sheet and that was not enough to get the company the contract he changed the scores of the preferred company so that the preferred company won the bid an and tirely rigged process. >> pawlowski stepped out of his row home and said -- >> i want to make it clearly have done nothing wrong nor have i personally accepted a dime beyond my salary as mayor, and not anything but legal campaign contributions. >> his attorney, jack mcmahon says the case is based on testimony from fleck and his partner. whatever fleck may have done he says was done without the mayor's knowledge. >> fleck needs to get money raised and used his relationship with the mayor and tells people things that are just not true nor are they coming from this man. this man would nevada do such a thing and never did do such a thing. >> a who done

wishes and they're turning over and they're being indicted -- i mean, the fact that they indicted mike fleckver a year ago i think means a lot, because he was the consultant for both the mayor in reading and the mayor in allentown. >> and another thing to keep in mind, as you have this large number of people who fall within the gears of justice, they, in an attempt to save themselves, have to give something to the prosecutor. and that usually means they're going up top. >> that's right. >> it's a four-year federal investigation, a 50-count indictment. this is not any small matter. they're playing for real over here. >> yeah. >> and do you think that, in the end, we'll see some fire where there was smoke? >> well, the feds don't expend that kind of effort where isn't something going on. and to brian's point, the number of people who are now caught up in this, it's in their self-interest to give up whoever's above them. >> sure. save their own skin. >> 'cause instead of getting "x" years, you'll get half as many years. >> that's right. >> but it could take a while, as we saw in the congressman

i do deeply regret putting my trust in a manipulative thief and historical liar had in mike fleck, my former campaign manager and family friend. i trust judicial system to sort out the facts and the fiction so you can see that i am the mayor and the man that you all know me to be. i want to prove the truth about my role as mayor of al lentown and former candidate for the united states senate. i hope that the bedrock principle of presumption of innocence in this country still holds trou. as you would all hope for yourselves and your family. i ask the same. to the people of allentown, i know this is a frustrating time for all of us. to the city kocouncil and other in the political arena, i have been trusted to continue this great city. i believe the people want a mayor who has shown that he's right for the job, he has the strength and backbone and courage toen stand up and not cave into a false narrative. because standing up for what is right and true is what leadership is all about. and i intend every day to continue to demonstrate that mind set as i fight for the people of the city an

. >> i regret putting my trust in a manipulative man mike fleck many i trust the judicial system to sorttion and prove me to be the man i am to be. as the mayor of allentown and former candidate for the united states senate. i hope the presumption of innocence in this country holds true, i simply ask the same. to the people of allentown i know this is a frustrating time for all of us. to allentown city council and others in the political arena i am trusted by the voters to continue the renaissance of this great city. i believe that a mayor cho has shown historically he is right for the job and has the courage and backbone and not cave in to a false narrative for standing up for what is right and true is what leadership is all about. and i intend to demonstrate that mind set as i fight for the people of the city and as we move forward as a community. i have a job to do and will continue to do it. and that includes my candidacy for re-election. to my family and friends, i want it thank you all for standing with me. for supporting me through the difficult time and praying with me through th