DA discloses $160,000 in gifts not in mandatory financial statements

PHILADELPHIA (WTXF/AP) - A new report is accusing Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams of not disclosing more than $160,000 worth of gifts, including a new $45,000 roof on his home.

It's information that was previously left out of mandatory financial statements.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports those gifts ranged from personal to professional.

The gifts were accepted between 2010 and 2015.

Williams issued a statement through his 2017 re-election campaign citing "the need for greater transparency."

His lawyer, Samuel Stretton, called the omissions a "terrible mistake."

Penalties for failing to report gifts can be as high as $1,000 under city ethics rules.

Stretton is trying to negotiate penalties with the Pennsylvania Ethics Commission and the Philadelphia Board of Ethics, saying Williams "wasn't paying attention" to reporting responsibilities and wrongly thought some gifts from close friends didn't need to be reported.

They also include nearly $21,000 in free airfare for vacations and sideline passes for Philadelphia Eagles games from 2011 to 2015.