President Donald Trump has commuted the federal prison sentence of former IBEW Local 98 business manager John Dougherty, allowing the longtime Philadelphia union leader to be released early.
Dougherty, widely known as “Johnny Doc,” could be released as soon as overnight Thursday night or sometime Friday, according to his attorney, George Bochetto.
Bochetto said he learned about the commutation on Thursday, Sept. 3.
“I was floored, i was so happy,” Bochetto said.
Dougherty was sentenced to six years in federal prison following a series of trials and convictions. He reported to prison in October 2024 and had about four years remaining on his sentence after serving two years.
Bochetto represented Dougherty after his federal trials. Dougherty had been one of the most recognizable names and faces of IBEW Local 98 for decades.
The federal investigation surrounding Dougherty became public in August 2016, when the FBI executed search warrants at several locations connected to him. They included Local 98’s headquarters in Philadelphia’s Spring Garden neighborhood, Dougherty’s home, his bar and the office of a former city council member.
In 2019, a federal grand jury indicted Dougherty and others on accusations of corruption and embezzlement, including misusing union funds and influencing City Hall while keeping then-Councilman Bobby Henon on the payroll.
This past July, Dougherty asked a judge to allow him to serve his sentence on house arrest so he could care for his gravely ill wife. The request was denied.
“His number one goal in this whole process is to return to his wife’s side,” Bochetto said.
Bochetto said Trump recognized the humanity and compassion of Dougherty’s situation in deciding to commute the sentence.
“I must say, President Trump really steps up on this matter. It’s no secret that Johnny Dougherty was a powerful Democratic politician working for Democrats in Democratic elections across the board, and for a Republican president to step up and grant this kind of compassionate release I think really says a lot about the man,” Bochetto said.
A commutation shortens a person’s sentence but does not erase the conviction, as a pardon would.
Bochetto said Thursday night that he had not yet had an opportunity to speak with Dougherty about the decision. He said Dougherty’s wife was moved by the news and joyous that he would be coming home.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.