Update on the Mayor
I still don't understand why Street called the Police Chief to have his office checked out for bugs .. did someone tip him off??
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/100803_nw_fbibug.html We have now learned that despite the fact that the FBI bugged his office, Mayor John Street is not the target of an on-going federal grand jury investigation. We have further learned that despite his proclamations to the contrary, he has been notified of that he and his campaign put out a statement saying as much tonight.
Sources say the primary target is an as yet unnamed associate and close confidante of Mayor Street. A secondary target is a Street supporter and respected religious leader in the Philadelphia Muslim community whose home was raided today.
Mayor John Street:
"I haven't talked to anybody from the federal level."
"Mayor John Street told a room full of reporters that he has not been contacted by federal authorities about whether or not he's a target of a federal investigation. But in the hours after the Philadelphia police found sophisticated listening devices inside the mayor's office, sources say the mayor was told he was not a target of the investigation at this time. And tonight, the U.S. attorney issued a statement saying, "we have stated very clearly to both Mayor Street and his attorney, the mayor's status in this matter. Beyond that, we have no further public comment."
The mayor says he hasn't hired an attorney but he knows this much…
Mayor John Street:
"I haven't done anything wrong and I don't know of anybody in my cabinet or my administration that has done anything wrong."
Action News has learned that FBI agents today raided the home of, Iman Shamsud-Din Ali, a highly respected religious leader in the Muslim community and big supporter of Mayor Street. Agents seized bank records and other documents. Ali and his wife, Farita Ali who also uses the name Rita Spicer operate the Sister Clara Muhammad School which has been embroiled in a fraud investigation. Mr. Ali declined to comment at this time.
"Iman is a supporter, I've seen him at fundraising events."
Meanwhile democratic city committee chairman and Congressman Bob Brady is among a number of democratic officials calling on the feds to publicly say what the mayor's role is, a sentiment echoed by governor Ed Rendell" So that is the latest in this on going drama having to do with the bugs in the mayor's office.