Feds Seize Mayor's Personal Pager (Philadelphia)

KYW News Radio 1060 Philadelphia ^ | Friday, October 10, 2003 | Walt Hunter

[Fresh Wind]

Another twist developed late Thursday in the bugging scandal at City Hall.

Federal authorities confirm that on the day the bug was uncovered at Mayor Street's office this week, they served him with a search warrant for his personal wireless communication device called a "Blackberry," and he turned it over to them.

Blackberries (such as sample shown) are popular and offer users a variety of functions such as wireless e-mail, scheduling, address books, and two-way paging.

Following Thursday night's televised debate between Mayor Street and Republican challenger Sam Katz, reporters asked Street why he didn't own up to the Blackberry turnover when the bug was found and he said simply, "Because nobody asked."

[Fresh Wind]

The plot thickens...

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[Fresh Wind]

Sorry, wrong link. Use this:

http://www.kyw1060.com/news_story_detail.cfm?newsitemid=32592

I notice that the text of the article just changed. It is now attributed to John McDevitt:

After the debate, both candidates spoke to a sea of reporters concerning the mayor's personal e-mail device called a blackberry.

It's now in the possession of the FBI.

Mayor John Street fielded many pointed questions from reporters including why he didn't disclose that his blackberry was handed over to the federal officials on Tuesday -- the same day the bug was found in his office.

Mayor: "Because nobody asked."

He says Police Chief Sylvester Johnson told him that day the FBI may want his blackberry:


"I said to the commissioner, 'take the blackberry.'"

The commissioner then gave it to the feds.

The mayor says the device -- one of three the mayor owns -- has not been returned.

Republican candidate Sam Katz says the mayor should be treated fairly in this matter, but fairness, he says, is a two way street:

"The mayor has an obligation to tell the citizens of Philadelphia what he knows. He knows more than what he has told us.

Street says he is very comfortable that he is not a target of an investigation and that he has done nothing wrong.

[gunnedah]

Next the Mayor will say those asking for this pager are racist! Why call it a BLACKberry. Sounds racist to me.

[Elkiejg]

Street says he is very comfortable that he is not a target of an investigation and that he has done nothing wrong.

Why does this remind me of "I didn't have sex with that woman"?????????

[Fresh Wind]

It's interesting that the mention of the mayor having been served with a search warrant was deleted in the second version of the article. No bias on KYW, nope.

[chiefqc]

Street is a crook and a hood, always was and always will be.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

SO which will it be? Embezzlement, drugs or conspiracy?

[jmq]

The Blackberry is a RF two way device that I submit the FBI could without trouble create into a roving title 3 listening device.