RismadarVoice Reporters
September 4, 2026
President Donald Trump has commuted the six-year prison sentence of former Philadelphia union leader John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty, potentially paving the way for his early release from prison.
Dougherty’s attorney, George Bochetto, confirmed Thursday that Trump had signed the commutation, bringing an end to the sentence imposed on the former head of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Dougherty was convicted in 2023 of corruption-related offences, including bribery and the embezzlement of nearly $600,000 from the union.
Known as “Johnny Doc,” Dougherty led the Philadelphia union for nearly three decades and was a prominent Democratic power broker in Pennsylvania politics. During his tenure, the union directed millions of dollars in campaign contributions to political candidates.
His legal troubles followed a lengthy FBI investigation that resulted in his indictment in 2019.
In November 2021, Dougherty and former Philadelphia City Council member Bobby Henon were convicted in a federal corruption case.
Prosecutors alleged that Dougherty kept Henon, a union electrician who became a council member, on the union payroll in exchange for helping protect the organisation’s influence over construction-related jobs.
Dougherty was ultimately convicted on eight counts, including conspiracy and honest-services wire fraud. Henon was convicted on 10 counts, including conspiracy, bribery and honest-services wire fraud.
Both men were acquitted of some of the charges against them. Dougherty was cleared of three fraud counts, while Henon was acquitted of eight fraud and bribery counts.
Dougherty had about four years remaining on his sentence before Trump’s action.
His attorney said the former union leader is expected to be released soon.
According to reports, the commutation reduces Dougherty’s prison sentence but does not erase his convictions.
