Posted on 04/18/2002 8:08:26 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
FBI agents Thursday raided offices of Essex County Executive James Treffinger but would not say what they were looking for.
Treffinger, a self-described conservative Republican, is one of five candidates seeking the GOP U.S. Senate nomination in New Jersey.
There was no immediate comment from Treffinger's office. An answering machine message said no one was available to talk.
Sandra Carroll, a spokeswoman for the FBI, confirmed that a raid took place.
"I can't give you any details," Carroll told United Press International. "The only thing I am able to do is confirm that there was a search at that location."
She said the search was "in connection with a criminal investigation." She said she could not say whether Treffinger was the target of that investigation.
Carroll would not say what was taken from the office, if anything. She did say there were no arrests.
Treffinger, who became Essex County executive on Jan. 1, 1995, is perceived as the front-runner for the nomination to challenge Democrat U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli in the fall.
Also running in the June GOP primary are longtime Burlington County Republican leader and former Philadelphia news anchor Diane Allen; Douglas Forrester, a wealthy businessman from Mercer County; and state Sen. John Matheussen of Gloucester County.
Just last week New Jersey's largest anti-abortion organization endorsed Matheussen as the only Republican candidate who has been a consistent foe of abortion.
"On the one issue that matters to pro-life Republicans, Sen. Matheussen offers voters a clear choice," Marie Tasy, director of public affairs for New Jersey Right to Life, told the Philadelphia Inquirer.
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