AN OPEN LETTER TO MY CONSTITUENTS:

As some of you may be aware, WTAE-TV Channel 4 ABC aired a story a few months ago in which it alleged I have a conflict of interest and that I receive outside income from PFBC-EET, which is headquartered in the same building where my district office is located.

WTAE-TV's allegations are false. In fact, the station aired a clarification on April 20 after I proved to the station and its parent company that their allegations were baseless and potentially libelous. The station also edited its online story to reflect that I am not employed by PFBC, as the station had alleged.

Despite WTAE-TV's on-air and online clarifications, which acknowledged that I do not have any such conflict of interest, the station has continued to air video footage of me as part of its promotional materials for its "Team 4 Investigates" feature with on-air personality Jim Parsons. Clearly, the station's intent is to imply that I am suspected of some type of ethical breach. The simple truth is that my involvement with PFBC-EET is, in no way whatsoever, a conflict of interest.

WTAE-TV has continued to wage a malicious attack campaign of half-truths and misinformation in an attempt to impugn my character to boost ratings. Rest assured that these attacks are completely baseless. My ethics and integrity remain unblemished and solidly intact.

Sincerely,

Ted Harhai
State Representative
58^th Legislative District