FBI Subpoenas Records Of State Agency - Louisiana (charities tied to African-American legislators)

New Orleans Times Picayune ^ | November 22, 2006 | Gordon Russell, Jan Moller and James Varney

[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.

[nopardons]

bttt

[AmeriBrit]

BTTT

[blam]

Who would have suspected?

[verum ago]

what?!?! Louisiana's politics have been tainted by corruption?!?! OMG!!!

[Eastbound]

Those pesky N.O. folks again. Heh heh. Ya just can't keep up with them.

[RaceBannon]

If Bush had only.....oh, wait, this was before Katrina....

[Pusterfuss]

William Jefferson, D-New Orleans.

[rawcatslyentist]

That's William Cold Cash Jefferson, D-New Orleans.

[mewzilla]

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.

Are there in fact such rules, anyone know?

[LibLieSlayer]

blank-o didn't turn it over because her name is on it!

LLS

[Grampa Dave]

"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.

[mewzilla]

LOL.

[mewzilla]

Thanks! No new info at The Dead Pelican's website. Destruction of docs, too, huh? Lovely.

[Grampa Dave]

Destruction of docs is an old DNA trait of the left wing here in America and despot serial killers like Saddam.

[mcg2000]

Strange how this story is buried in the national news. Not really, huh?

[mewzilla]

Sigh. Nope. And to think that the 'Rats decided against holding their '08 convention in NOLA. Go figure.

[EQAndyBuzz]

"William Jefferson, D-New Orleans."

1996? William Jefferson.... Clinton D-Arkansas

[mewzilla]

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.

[OldFriend]

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.

[ritewingwarrior]

What difference does it make? NO matter what happens with democrats, they just deny everything, and then they stay in power. Republicans are ashamed at their behavior when they get caught. Start proceedings against Jefferson and maybe I will believe that all this is worthwhile.

[Grampa Dave]

Actually a new industry has thrived since the Clintoon's shredding in the out house.

Companies now have heavy duty shredders attached to trucks and vans and make office and home calls. It is a god send for MDs and Dentists with tons of old paper.

One of our younger relatives knows the owner of one of these mobile shredders, and he said that before, during and immediately after every election, many of the candidates hire these professional shredders. They walk out with the documents and watch them as they shredded and stay until the shredding is over.

[gondramB]

>>William Jefferson, D-New Orleans.<<

What an odd coincidence, that's just what I was thinking... :)

[mcg2000]

"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."

You won't be hearing too much info about this on the FreeRepublic site either ... the thread got pulled (early this morning) from the listing and can only be found through a specific search.

The unaccountability of FEMA money helped to contribute to the GOP losing votes in the last election ... some info comes out to shed some light on the issue for clarification.

Curious that FreeRepublic sided with the MSM on this one and opted to keep it as low a profile as needed...

[LibLieSlayer]

Having been at ground ZERO in Katrina I can tell you that anyone that blames the GOP for the century old corrupt murderous dim machine in Louisiana doing what it does best (which is lie, cheat and steal), then they are out of their minds!

Mississippi DID NOT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS... BUT WE ARE ALSO GOVERNED BY THE GOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!