Donald L. Barlett, an award-winning investigative journalist whose partnership with a fellow reporter, James B. Steele, at The Philadelphia Inquirer exposed numerous cases of corruption by public officials and in one instance laid bare how a growing wage gap and federal tax law were shrinking the nation’s middle class, died on Saturday, Oct. 5, at his home in Philadelphia. He was 88.
His death, from a series of illnesses, was confirmed by his son, Matthew, on Wednesday.
