HARRISBURG — The House Democratic caucus denied a request Wednesday by its former second-ranking member to pay the costs of defending him against criminal charges in the state's ongoing legislative corruption investigation.

Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, made the decision in response to a Dec. 11 letter sent to him and other House leaders by Mike Veon's lawyer, Bob Del Greco.

Del Greco threatened to seek a federal injunction if the House of Representatives did not agree to pay Veon's already accrued legal expenses and "all future attorney fees and related expenses consistent with its custom and practice of paying legal fees for House members and staff over the last two decades."

"It's a slam dunk," Eachus said of his decision. "I think people expect ... me as a leader and the House Democratic caucus to be stewards of their tax dollars. Paying for liability exposure or legal exposure for former members of the House would be an unwise way to spend their tax dollars."

Veon, a former state representative from Beaver County, is among 12 people associated with the House Democratic caucus who were charged in July by the attorney general's office with theft, conflict of interest and conspiracy in connection with the alleged illegal use of government employees and taxpayer money for electioneering.

Trial in Dauphin County court is not expected before summer. Veon had been the Democratic whip, the caucus' second-ranking leadership position, before his defeat in the 2006 election.

"We have no responsibility to pay legal costs that either Mike Veon or any other member incurs after their service," Eachus said.

Eachus said the policy has been that payment of legal bills for a House member or employee ends once that person has been charged with a crime. He said he intends to continue that policy.

Del Greco's letter stated that the House has paid attorneys' fees for others in the legislative bonus investigation and "paid for legal representation or reimbursed multiple Democrat and Republican House members, House staff and staff of the chief clerk's office for attorney fees over the last two decades, for various legal matters — both civil and criminal."

The letter was addressed to Eachus, House Chief Clerk Roger Nick and four other top leaders of both parties.