The Conditional Contrition Of Eduard Pawlowski

In Ed Pawlowski's commutation request, he uses the word corrupt only in regard to his campaign manager, not to himself. Rather, he describes himself as naive and too eager to serve the public. 

As someone who started scrutinizing Pawlowski a decade before his conviction, I can tell you that he was anything but naive. On the contrary, he played the public as well as he played those bidding for city contracts. For his last campaign he assembled and empowered sycophants from Allentown's various demographics, to ensure victory in the Democratic primary. He succeeded, and those people are still in positions of power in this city.

These people that he empowered have been tireless in their effort to get him freed. While they view their loyalty as a virtue, they too don't question their own integrity...That is a character flaw they share with Pawlowski. While the campaign to free him may succeed, I'm afraid that there will be no community lesson.