Disgraced Allentown mayor pleads for forgiveness in letter – NBC10 Philadelphia

Former Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, a Democrat, claims he has seen the error of his ways in a letter he released to the community while behind bars after being convicted on federal corruption charges.

In a letter posted online on the website FreePawlowski.com, the former mayor said he hoped as mayor to “turn a dying rust town into a thriving urban center.” But during his time in office, he claimed, his own stupidity, his ego and “a few corrupt campaign advisers” dashed his hopes for a career as a U.S. senator.

FreePawlowski.com

In the letter, Pawlowski said that while in prison he has had time to reflect on his actions while incarcerated and that he hopes to serve the community again in some way upon his eventual release.

“I was a foolish man, please forgive me,” Pawlowski wrote.

The site is also calling on President Joe Biden to commute Pawlowski’s 15-year prison sentence on federal corruption charges, citing that since he has spent the last six years in prison, he has “already paid a heavy price.”

“We respectfully request your compassion and consideration for Edwin Pawlowski, the former mayor of Allentown, Pennsylvania, who is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence on corruption-related charges. Now that he has served six years of his sentence, we ask that you consider commuting back and forth for the remainder of his time,” reads a letter to the president on the website in support of Pawlowski.

In 2018, a jury convicted Pawlowski of trading campaign money for city contracts. Federal prosecutors then said he forced city vendors to contribute to his failed campaigns for governor and U.S. Senate.

The organizers behind the effort to commute Pawlowski’s sentence did not immediately respond when contacted for comment.