A lawyer defending two of those accused in Pennsylvania's ongoing Bonusgate government corruption investigation can't be faulted for exercising all of the legal options he can muster on behalf of his clients.

In the cases of former state Reps. Steve Stetler and Brett Feese — Stetler, a York Democrat, and Feese, a Lycoming Republican — Attorney Joshua Lock wants criminal charges dropped against the two ex-lawmakers and wants the office of state Attorney General Tom Corbett barred from prosecuting his clients' cases if they go forward.

An an article in the March 26 Butler Eagle reported, Lock argues in court documents that Corbett used public money to campaign for governor and for re-election as attorney general even as his office was investigating similar conduct by others, including Feese and Stetler.

Having made that accusation, the burden is on Lock to provide specifics backing up what he has contended. Such a serious accusation against Corbett must not be put to rest without the accusation being proven or discredited.

Transparency is of utmost importance.

Actually, the absence of transparency is at the foundation of why Bonusgate occurred in the first place.

While Stetler and Feese remain innocent until proven guilty, former state Rep. Mike Veon of Beaver County and aides Brett Cott and Annamarie Perretta-Rosepink were convicted March 22 of multiple felony counts stemming from Bonusgate.

In response to Lock's accusation, Corbett spokesman Kevin Harley told a Pittsburgh newspaper, "When you don't have a plausible defense, you accuse your accuser."

But having been accused, and because of his role in pursuing the Bonusgate probe, Corbett has the responsibility to respond.

It must be acknowledged that in many cases there is a fuzzy line as to what is and is not campaign-related. However, a trial jury was able to distinguish between what was legal and illegal in handing down guilty verdicts against Veon and his two aides.

The Veon verdict and the investigation leading up to the three being charged probably have Pennsylvania public officials looking over their shoulders now more than anytime in the past.

Contrary to what Lock has contended, many state residents would be hard-pressed to believe that the attorney general would be so bold — and, indeed, so stupid — as to doggedly pursue criminal charges against others while he himself was spending taxpayers' money illegally in the same or similar ways as those he was targeting in Bonusgate.

Regardless, the bottom line remains that Lock must back up his accusation with evidence. And if such evidence is forthcoming, Corbett will have the obligation to answer the accusation.

State residents should pay attention to what transpires in response to Lock's allegation. Corbett's higher aspirations to be governor rightly subject his record and conduct to close scrutiny.

Despite the plethora of troubling news over the past decade about legislative conduct in Harrisburg, many state residents probably doubted that the Bonusgate investigation would proceed as far as it has or result in as many charges as have been forthcoming, affecting both of the major political parties. Approximately two dozen current or former state officials and staffers already have been charged in the probe, which is continuing.

Corbett and his office have done the state a great favor by their committed assault on Bonusgate-related wrongdoing. But with Lock's allegation, state residents now are left wondering whether there is a valid, troubling twist to the investigation.

For now, the ball is in Lock's court. He must either come forth with evidence to support his accusation or apologize to Corbett and members of his staff.

All right-thinking state residents are waiting — and perhaps wondering whether what Pennsylvania really needs is a federal grand jury probe to finally bring to an end Keystone State governmental corruption.

It's imperative that confidence in this state's government be restored, no matter what it takes.