Posted on 11/22/2006 1:06:02 AM PST by mcg2000
BATON ROUGE — A state office that oversaw a series of controversial charities tied to African-American legislators is being scrutinized by the FBI, Gov. Kathleen Blanco’s office confirmed Tuesday in annoucing that it had complied with a subpoena for records from the department.
“The governor’s office staff has complied with the FBI’s request for information dating back to 1996 regarding certain programs funded by the former Office of Urban Affairs,” Blanco’s office said in a prepared statement.
The governor’s office confirmed receipt of the subpoena Tuesday after a reporter inquired about it.
Before it was abolished earlier this year, the urban affairs office was in charge of overseeing grants to non-profit agencies in the districts of black lawmakers. Critics commonly derided the grants — and similar money doled out to rural districts — as legislative “slush funds” that governors could use as an incentive to get reluctant legislators to vote their way.
Blanco’s office refused to turn over a copy of the subpoena or divulge details about its contents, citing federal secrecy rules that bar such disclosures.
“Thursday, Nov. 16, staff members provided the documents requested and outlined the general operation of the office,” Blanco’s office said. “The governor’s office is continuing to cooperate in this matter.”
A source in the governor’s office said the records that were turned over only date back to 2001, as earlier documents have already been destroyed.
It’s unclear what the FBI is looking for. But earlier this year, James Bernazzani, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s New Orleans field office, announced his intention to investigate two charities that were financed by the Urban Affairs office. Both of the groups — Care Unlimited and Orleans Metropolitan Housing — have longtime ties to U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-New Orleans.
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
bttt
BTTT
Who would have suspected?
what?!?! Louisiana's politics have been tainted by corruption?!?! OMG!!!
Those pesky N.O. folks again. Heh heh. Ya just can't keep up with them.
If Bush had only.....oh, wait, this was before Katrina....
Are there in fact such rules, anyone know?
blank-o didn't turn it over because her name is on it!
LLS
"Blanco’s office refused to turn over a copy of the subpoena or divulge details about its contents, citing federal secrecy rules that bar such disclosures."
If the investigation is part of a sanctioned Grand Jury investigation, that is true at all levels of government.
LOL.
Thanks! No new info at The Dead Pelican's website. Destruction of docs, too, huh? Lovely.
Destruction of docs is an old DNA trait of the left wing here in America and despot serial killers like Saddam.
Strange how this story is buried in the national news. Not really, huh?
"William Jefferson, D-New Orleans."
1996? William Jefferson.... Clinton D-Arkansas
Not much in the local news, either. I just took a quick look at some of the websites for some LA TV stations. Not a mention at any of the half dozen or so sites I looked at. Not a peep.
The slick willie administration reached new heights of document shredding. Just about every person under any kind of investigation had a king sized shredder in their office.
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