Yes, it’s all the media and political enemies fault.  It has nothing to do with the six criminal counts of conspiracy, conflict of interest and theft – of course not.  Sometimes the best course of action is really not to say anything at all.  From the Pittsburgh Post Gazette:

State Rep. Sean Ramaley pulled off a couple of magic tricks yesterday afternoon, first vanishing from the race to succeed retiring state Sen. Gerald LaValle, then disappearing from the room where his news conference was being held, slipping out a side door, and referring subsequent questions to his attorney.

He was unable, however, to perform the more challenging handcuff escape. On July 11, Mr. Ramaley — wearing a frown, a black suit and a set of handcuffs — was escorted past a news media throng and into the courtroom of Dauphin County District Judge Joseph Solomon for his preliminary arraignment.

Images of the white-collar perp walk appeared on TV and in newspapers across the state.

“It has become clear to me [that] after the orchestrated, politically inspired media event staged a few weeks ago, that this campaign will ultimately be focused not on issues, but on one unflattering photograph,” he said yesterday at his attorney’s office Downtown. “Though I am innocent of these accusations against me, I believe my continued presence in this state Senate race will be a distraction.”

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