The convicted former Philadelphia labor leader John "Johnny Doc" Dougherty was released from prison Friday afternoon after President Donald Trump granted a commutation of his sentence.
He was released around 3:45 p.m. from a prison in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, about an hour and a half north of Harrisburg.
Former Philadelphia labor leader John Daugherty has been released from federal prison after President Donald Trump commuted his six-year sentence. Daugherty, who led the IBEW Local 98 for 30 years, was convicted of bribery and embezzlement. The commutation was granted primarily on humanitarian grounds to allow Daugherty to care for his terminally ill wife.
Former Philadelphia labor leader John Daugherty, now a free man, he was released from prison
earlier today after President Donald Trump commuted his sentence.
Daugherty had been serving a six-year federal prison sentence after being convicted of bribery
and embezzlement back in 2024.
Action News reporter Elizabeth Worthington live in Center City with the update on his
release, Elizabeth.
Yes, so great.
We heard that Daugherty was released from federal prison in Lewisburg around three o'clock
this afternoon.
So we, along with several other news crews, waited outside of his apartment building hoping
to get a chance to talk to him.
But no luck.
We did get to talk to his attorney earlier today, though, who said they were both really
shocked to get that call from the White House.
He returned to Philadelphia a free man Friday night.
This footage is from 2024 when he was on trial for federal corruption charges.
Once a powerful political force in the Democratic Party, Daugherty led the International Brotherhood
of Electric Workers, Local 98, for three decades.
On Thursday, President Trump commuted his sentence.
Daugherty's attorney, George Boqueto, says it was a long journey to get here.
It's a long shot, but it's a long shot worth taking.
In 2024, Daugherty was sentenced to six years in federal prison on bribery and embezzlement
charges in two separate high-profile cases.
He was found guilty of bribing then-City Councilman Bobby Keenan and also stealing about $600,000
from the union he led for years.
Daugherty had previously tried to get out of prison early on house arrest, citing the
need to care for his terminally ill wife.
That request was denied by a federal judge.
The White House said in a statement to Action News that Daugherty's father-in-law had been
caring for his wife, but he passed away last year.
Her money has run out.
She can no longer afford private nursing.
Someone needs to be there to take care of her.
And the president recognized that.
Paquetto believes this is an example of people rising above politics.
The Democrats in this town have been calling me.
My phone's ringing off the hook.
They can't believe how gracious the president has been on this particular call.
We also heard from Frank Keel.
He was the former IBEW spokesman.
He was a spokesman when Daugherty was the leader for that union.
He said, quote, before his major mistake, John Daugherty did a lot of good for Local
98, the labor movement, and the city of Philadelphia.
He says, I wish him and Celia nothing but the best.
Welcome home, Doc.
We're live in Center City tonight.
Elizabeth Worthington for Action News at 10 on PHL 17.
Gray.
OK, Elizabeth, thank you for the update.
