PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pennsylvania Senate Majority Whip Jane Orie and her sister Janine have surrendered to face charges of theft of service and other charges for allegedly using the senator's staff to do campaign work on behalf of a third sister, state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin.

A district judge allowed them to remain free and the sisters and their brother, John, who acted as their attorney Wednesday, denied the charges, claiming they're the result of a political witch hunt by Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala.

Jane Orie says she's been fighting corruption, particularly in the gambling industry, and she's being targeted because of the Zappala family's gambling interests.