Former Allegheny County candidate McCullough raised suspicions with client's political donation, trial testimony shows

Chuck McCullough's political adversaries, including the man who's now Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto's chief of staff, became suspicious in 2007 when he arranged for an elderly widow unknown in political circles to donate $40,000 to Republican politicians.

Kevin Acklin, Peduto's top aide, took the witness stand Wednesday on the third day of the criminal trial of McCullough, 60, of Upper St. Clair on charges he abused his power of attorney to steal nearly $200,000 from the $14.7 million estate of Shirley Jordan, who died in 2010 at age 93. Common Pleas Judge Lester Nauhaus is hearing the non-jury trial.

McCullough and Acklin, a Republican-turned-Democrat, were competing for an at-large county council seat in 2007. Acklin testified that some of his supporters, including then-Councilman Vince Gastgeb, withdrew their support once McCullough handed out the checks.

While in Upper St. Clair gathering signatures, Acklin visited Jordan's house, he said.

“The condition of her house looked like no one lived there. There was a window without drapes, a gutter was dislodged, there were water-logged phone books covered in snow outside and mail,” Acklin testified. “I called Vince Gastgeb and said, ‘Who is Shirley Jordan?' Gastgeb said Jordan was a client of McCullough's and he had served as her estate (lawyer).”

Acklin said that raised a red flag.

“Mr. McCullough's in an estate relationship with this donor. I said, ‘Vince, this does not smell good to me,' ” Acklin testified.

Acklin went to the court records office and pulled Jordan's file, a public record, to confirm McCullough's involvement in her affairs. Within days, Acklin testified he received an angry call from McCullough.

“(McCullough) said to me, ‘What are you doing snooping around the court records department?' I said, ‘You know exactly what I was doing there,' ” Acklin testified. “He said, ‘You might want to ask around town to see who you're (expletive) with.' ”

Acklin assembled his campaign team and decided to have a member of his team call Jordan at her senior living facility to see if she authorized the donations. The call was under the guise of thanking her for her donations to Republicans.

The campaign member — Erica Clayton Wright — testified Jordan seemed friendly until Wright brought up the four, $10,000 donations.

“She seemed to get agitated, loud and concerned, like she was unfamiliar with the contributions,” Wright testified. “She said, ‘Donations? I would never make donations to politics. I write my own checks.'”

The judge was critical of the approach, particularly the call to Jordan. Witnesses have testified she had dementia.

“Mr. Acklin and (Wright) basically perpetrated a fraud on this woman. That's exactly what they were doing,” Nauhaus said.

On cross-examination from defense attorney Jon Pushinsky, Acklin denied political motivation.

“This is about justice. It had nothing to do about the election,” Acklin testified. “I was very disturbed.”

How that information made it to the media is expected to be part of Thursday's testimony. Acklin declined to comment.

The trial began Monday and is expected to last two weeks.

McCullough's sister, Kathleen McCullough, 52, of Collier, is charged with theft and conspiracy in connection with the alleged theft from Jordan's estate. She is being tried with her brother.

Bobby Kerlik is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7886 and bkerlik@tribweb.com.