Ex-Philadelphia union leader accused of embezzling $150,000 for political backing

A former leader of a Philadelphia labor union allegedly stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from his members to support specific candidates in the city’s 2019 Democratic primary election.

State and federal authorities accused Christen Woods, a former district head of the National Union of Hospital and Healthcare Employees, of stealing more than $150,000 to spend on political campaigns. He allegedly misrepresented the missing funds as payments for renovation costs of his union’s headquarters in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

“Woods, the head of District 1199C…submitted false bids to the union to ensure Hardy’s newly created and unlicensed construction company was awarded a heavily-inflated bid to renovate a portion of the union hall,” read official court documents.

“The money was then funneled from the construction company to Hardy’s political consulting company, Monroe Press, to fund political work for Wood’s chosen candidates for the 2019 Democratic primary election,” read the official police criminal complaint. “Woods also used union funds to pay fraudulent invoices from Hardy’s consulting company in order to provide financial support for candidates endorsed by Woods. Woods and Hardy utilized financial transactions in order to conceal their theft from the union and to circumvent Pennsylvania campaign finance law and U.S. Department of Labor union reporting requirements.”

The name “Hardy” refers to Tracy Hardy, the former chief of staff to Sen. Shariff Street, son of former Philadelphia Mayor John Street and the chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. If convicted, both could face up to 20 years in prison.

“The law is very clear about how unions can support candidates and their campaigns,” said Attorney General Michelle Henry. “These two men are accused of intentionally defrauding a workers’ union with an elaborate scheme to steal and divert money for political purposes.”

Wood denied any wrongdoing through statements issued by his attorneys. His counsel called the charges a “limited, one-sided view.”

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“Mr. Woods did not defraud or conspire to defraud the members of District 1199C for whom he fought throughout his career,” Woods’ lawyers said. “In reality, it was the failure to plan that bring Mr. Woods into this case. That’s not criminal, and it’s unfortunate we are here.”

The charges brought against Woods (and Hardy) resulted from a five-year investigation by the FBI and Pennsylvania state prosecutors, according to reports.