Harrisburg, Pa. - The very first capitol corruption trial ended with a not guilty verdict Thursday afternoon. The decision by the jury brought great disappointment to prosecutors, and pure joy to former state Rep. Sean Ramaley of Beaver County.

The corruption investigation involves people who are accused of using public money or public resources illegally, some for their own gain, to win elections.

Attorney General Tom Corbett has an election coming up. The question is, will this verdict, and those of future trials, affect his campaign for governor?

"Vindicated," Ramaley said as he left a Dauphin County courtroom. "This was a big, important day."

It was an important day for the exonerated Ramaley, though a surprising day to political insiders. "It's a shocker to everybody," said Jim Lee, of Susquehanna Polling and Research. "It's got to be considered a huge setback for the attorney general. This was his first big crack at it."

Ramaley was the first defendant to face trial in Corbett's capitol corruption investigation. More than 20 others were indicted. Some are awaiting their day in court, including former House Democratic Whip Mike Veon.

"It probably gives them a little bit of wind at their backs to say, 'Hey, wait a minute. We have a case of an overzealous prosecutor here that didn't have all his ducks in a row,' " Lee said.

One juror said there was no evidence Ramaley was campaigning for his 2004 House seat while on the clock. At the time, he was working as a legislative assistant.

"What time was he dialing for dollars? Where are the phone records? I didn't see any phone records," said juror Douglass Kirk.

"There's much more involved in the other cases and there will be many more facets to it than there was on this little sliver," said Senior Deputy Attorney General Anthony Krastek.

Still, prosecutors may have their work cut out proving illegal activity.

"I think what this case did is show how blurred the lines are and how even a jury will have a difficult time deciding what's a legitimate legislative function and where do you cross the line into political activity," Lee said.

Corbett said the corruption investigation is on-going. So is his desire to become Pennsylvania's next governor.

When former House Speaker John Perzel, a Republican, was named in the latest round of indictments, he accused the attorney general of "political opportunism."

"I think Jim Gerlach, who's of course Tom Corbett's opponent for governor next year, will just have a field day with this issue now," Lee said.

Susquehanna Polling and Research reports Corbett has a small lead over Gerlach in the primary race. Lee said the landscape could change if voters find Corbett was overzealous in prosecuting these cases.

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