Former Philadelphia labor leader John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty has been granted an early release from federal custody following a commutation of his sentence signed by President Donald Trump. His attorney, George Bochetto, confirmed the development to CBS News Philadelphia on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Dougherty, who led IBEW Local 98 for nearly three decades and was a prominent figure in Pennsylvania Democratic politics, was originally sentenced to six years in prison in July 2024. He has four years remaining on his term. The conviction stems from a 2023 case in which he was found guilty of bribing a city council member and embezzling approximately $600,000 from his union local. He had also been convicted in November 2021 on separate bribery and fraud charges related to his use of former Councilmember Bobby Henon to benefit the union.<\/p>\n
Bochetto stated that the commutation was granted to allow Dougherty to return home and provide care for his wife, Cecilia Dougherty, who is suffering from a serious illness. He noted that the family has exhausted their funds for private nursing care.<\/p>\n
“President Trump has signed a commutation so that Johnny Doc can be released from prison to take care of his gravely ill wife,” Bochetto said. “Cecilia Dougherty is in desperate need of care. Her money has run out for private nursing, and she desperately needs John by her side. And that’s why now.”<\/p>\n
The attorney added that he received notification of the commutation from the White House on Thursday afternoon and expects Dougherty to be released from the federal penitentiary in Lewisburg on Friday morning. A team has been arranged to transport him to his wife.<\/p>\n
Despite the grant of clemency, official records on the Office of the Pardon Attorney\u2019s website did not yet reflect the approval as of Thursday night. The agency\u2019s website indicates that Trump had previously denied a commutation request for Dougherty in July. Prosecutors had opposed the current request, arguing that Dougherty had not served sufficient time to warrant release.<\/p>\n
Bochetto praised the president for acting across party lines. “John Dougherty is an icon of Democratic politics in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. Donald Trump is a Republican,” he said. “The president has risen above partisan politics and recognized the need and the compassion that this case presented.”<\/p>\n