HARRISBURG -- A gag order has been lifted from hundreds of Democratic House employees who testified before a grand jury investigating whether taxpayer money was used illegally for campaign work.

The corruption investigation, which came to be known as Bonusgate, resulted in 12 arrests.

Both the gag order and its lifting last month were filed under seal.

Former state Rep. Mike Veon and his former top aide Brett Cott filed motions to have the order lifted because it was impeding their ability to obtain information needed for their criminal defense.

Judge Barry Feudale -- the same jurist who filed the original order preventing witnesses from speaking about their testimony -- removed the gag on May 13, according to a copy of the order obtained yesterday by the Post-Gazette.

While Attorney General Tom Corbett has said that the investigation is ongoing, Judge Feudale ruled that there is no longer justification for the impact the gag order could have on defendants' rights.

Mr. Cott declined to comment.

Daniel Raynak, attorney for Mr. Veon, said he could not comment specifically about any orders Judge Feudale may have issued in the case.

However, he said, "In general, a gag order that is lifted but the order is sealed is problematic for anyone who still thinks it is [in effect] and thus won't talk because of the uncertainty."