By David DeKok
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Reuters) - Former Harrisburg Mayor Stephen Reed arrived at a Pennsylvania court on Tuesday to face criminal charges stemming from a grand jury investigation into government dealings in the financially troubled capital city.
Reed told reporters he came to court to face charges stemming from the grand jury investigation and he was "absolutely" innocent of any criminal wrongdoing.
"This is surreal," said Reed, who was mayor of Harrisburg for 28 years, as he arrived at state court in Harrisburg.
"Nothing like this has ever happened to me," said the ex-mayor, who first took office in 1982.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane's office will hold a press conference in Harrisburg on Tuesday.
For the past two years, judicial sources told Reuters, a state grand jury had been meeting in Pittsburgh to explore alleged financial misdeeds that in 2011 led to the financial downfall of Harrisburg. The city exited receivership last year.
Agents from the Pennsylvania attorney general's office had raided Reed's home in June and carted away antiques and boxes in an investigation tied to the secret grand jury proceeding.
Reed, who was mayor of Harrisburg from 1982 to 2010, has been dogged by rumors of personal financial improprieties in office, including the use of public money to purchase antiques for his home, which he has denied.
(The story corrects sixth paragraph to show that city exited receivership last year.)