Bug In Mayor's Office In Place 2 Weeks (Judge Refuses To Allow Media To Look At Warrants)

NBC10 ^ | Oct 15, 2003

[Mannaggia l'America]

PHILADELPHIA -- In the latest in the federal investigation into Mayor John Street, a newspaper is reporting that the bug planted in the mayor's office was only in place two weeks before it was discovered, and a federal judge has refused to unseal warrants related to the Federal Bureau of Investigation probe.

Citing unidentified sources familiar with the investigation, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the judge who approved the bugging only allowed FBI agents to listen to conversations from a short list of visitors, and that the devices had been installed with just weeks to go in Street's tight re-election campaign.

Street and other Democrats have said they believe the bugging was politically motivated and intended to cast suspicion on his administration to the benefit of his Republican opponent, Sam Katz. The election is on Nov. 4.

A federal official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that Street is a "subject" in an FBI probe. The legal term is used to describe a person whose conduct is within the scope of a criminal probe, although they themselves may not be suspected of breaking the law.

The FBI and the U.S. attorney in Philadelphia have refused to say what the investigation is about, but denied that it had anything to do with the campaign. In recent months, agents have subpoenaed records having to do with various city contracts.

A city agency that helps minority-owned businesses get shares of public works contracts was asked to turn over records last week, shortly after the bug was discovered, City Solicitor Nelson Diaz confirmed Tuesday.

Agents have also taken three BlackBerry hand-held computers from Street, interviewed an aide to his chief of staff and raided a business associated with one of his supporters, the influential Imam Shamsud-din Ali.

Earlier this year, agents also requested information about a $13.6 million maintenance contract awarded at the city-owned Philadelphia International Airport. The company that held the contract, Philadelphia Airport Services, made plans earlier this year to subcontract more than $1.1 million of the work to the mayor's brother, but the deal was scrapped after a public outcry.

Meanwhile, a federal judge has denied a request to unseal search warrants related to an FBI probe that placed hidden listening devices in Street's office.

Chief U.S, District Judge James Giles ruled against permitting the media to review documents from the investigation, saying he did not want to jeopardize the federal probe.

Giles' decision Tuesday night came in response to a request from Philadelphia Newspapers Inc., to unseal the warrants.

Lawyers for the company that publishes The Inquirer and Daily News said the public had a pressing right to learn about the investigation, especially with a mayoral election scheduled for less than a month away.

City police officers found the devices on Tuesday morning last week, during a routine sweep of the mayor's City Hall office.

[Mannaggia l'America]

Chief U.S, District Judge James Giles ruled against permitting the media to review documents from the investigation, saying he did not want to jeopardize the federal probe.

Giles is a Carter appointee and African-American. Cuts into Street's race card play (if the media decides to point this out).

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[At _War_With_Liberals]

After the evidence is made known to Street, he will play the race card..

'If the bug does not fit, you must acquit!'

[Williams]

Giles is also a solid judge. I really fear for our country. There are serious corruption issues surrounding Street's administration. There is zero chance the investigation, which was revealed by STREET, had anything to do with the election. The Inquirer, USA Today, NYT, and others nonetheless just spin the story that it somehow has to do with the election and race, even though no evidence of that exists.

And Rendell and others keep making the insane demand that the FBI publicly discuss an ongoing criminal investigation, knowing that would destroy the investigation. So long as the democrats control our media, they will spin real corruption by Dems and exaggerate every possible ant-republican story.

What will happen here is that indictments will come some time AFTER Street is reelected. But it is perverse that this type of scandal will not bring him down.