Phila. Councilwoman Says She Will Not Comment on Former Aide's Guilty Plea

By Mike Dunn

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Mum is still very much the word from Philadelphia city councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown about the wire fraud guilty plea from her former campaign manager.

John McDaniel, longtime associate and former campaign manager of Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, pleaded guilty last week to stealing more than $100,000 from her 2011 campaign (see related story).

On the day of the plea, Reynolds Brown fled Council chambers after being alerted that reporters would ask her for comment (see related story).

But she appeared Tuesday at a Council committee hearing, and reporters tried again.

(Mike Dunn:)  "This is about the guilty plea for John McDaniel..."

(Reynolds Brown:)   "I will not be commenting on any outside federal investigation now.  I will not be.  It's inappropriate.  It's improper.  It's inappropriate.  It's improper."

Reynolds Brown was fined more than $20,000 by the Philadelphia Ethics Board for campaign and ethics code violations (see previous story).