jAZ
12-01-2005, 11:16 PM
This definately sounds sketchy... I don't konw what a courier supervior makes, but I'm guessing $2000 is a very pretty big chunk of that salary. Ya think there's a $2000 "bonus" somewhere in that guys payroll records? If so, they should throw the book at this guy.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Fieger-Search.html
December 1, 2005
Feds Search Office of Mich. Candidate
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 9:37 p.m. ET
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (AP) -- Federal agents who took payroll and other documents from the offices of prominent trial lawyer Geoffrey Fieger were seeking evidence of campaign finance violations from the 2004 presidential campaign, Fieger and his attorney said Thursday.
The 10 FBI and Internal Revenue Service agents were looking for documents relating to political candidates, as well as personnel and employee compensation records, according to an inventory filed in federal court Thursday.
Fieger, best known for defending assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian, characterized it as persecution by Republicans in the U.S. attorney's office in Detroit and the attorneys general in Washington and Lansing. He is currently running for state attorney general.
''It's McCarthyism all over again,'' Fieger said.
He said subpoenas left by agents who searched his offices Wednesday evening indicated they were looking into campaign contributions his staff made to Democratic presidential candidates John Edwards and John Kerry.
Federal officials would not comment on the reason for the search but said the U.S. Justice Department's Public Integrity Section, which focuses on public corruption and campaign finance violations, is leading the investigation. Spokesman Bryan Sierra confirmed the section's involvement but declined further comment.
The alleged violation relates to the Edwards campaign, Fieger attorney Richard Steinberg said.
Fieger contributed $2,000 to Edwards' primary campaign, the maximum allowed from an individual.
Of 14 employees of his law firm who gave money to candidates in the 2004 presidential election, 13 gave to Edwards, according to a search of Political Money Line, a nonpartisan campaign finance tracking system; each of them -- including a building manager and a courier supervisor -- gave the maximum $2,000.
Edwards spokeswoman Kim Rubey said the campaign learned about the federal investigation through news reports Thursday.
''The Edwards for President 2004 campaign held itself to the highest standards and went above and beyond legal requirements for campaign finance compliance,'' Rubey said in an e-mail. ''Sen. Edwards expects his staff and supporters to meet these standards.''
The affidavit supporting the government's request for the Fieger search warrant was sealed, and Fieger's attorneys filed a motion Thursday seeking to open it, claiming the government went beyond what a federal magistrate authorized.
In their search, agents targeted the law firm's senior bookkeeper and office manager and two employees who work with her, according to court documents filed after the warrant was executed. Among other things, they were looking for employment and compensation records; canceled checks and bank statements; tax records; and documents relating to candidates for federal, state or local office.
The 39 items seized included payroll binders and personnel files, Edwards for President ticket stubs and a Fieger for Governor folder, the court documents show. Fieger made an unsuccessful bid for governor in 1998.
Fieger was already the target of a separate, state investigation over campaign contributions. State Attorney General Mike Cox has also accused Fieger of trying to blackmail him, though no charges have been filed.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Fieger-Search.html
December 1, 2005
Feds Search Office of Mich. Candidate
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 9:37 p.m. ET
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (AP) -- Federal agents who took payroll and other documents from the offices of prominent trial lawyer Geoffrey Fieger were seeking evidence of campaign finance violations from the 2004 presidential campaign, Fieger and his attorney said Thursday.
The 10 FBI and Internal Revenue Service agents were looking for documents relating to political candidates, as well as personnel and employee compensation records, according to an inventory filed in federal court Thursday.
Fieger, best known for defending assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian, characterized it as persecution by Republicans in the U.S. attorney's office in Detroit and the attorneys general in Washington and Lansing. He is currently running for state attorney general.
''It's McCarthyism all over again,'' Fieger said.
He said subpoenas left by agents who searched his offices Wednesday evening indicated they were looking into campaign contributions his staff made to Democratic presidential candidates John Edwards and John Kerry.
Federal officials would not comment on the reason for the search but said the U.S. Justice Department's Public Integrity Section, which focuses on public corruption and campaign finance violations, is leading the investigation. Spokesman Bryan Sierra confirmed the section's involvement but declined further comment.
The alleged violation relates to the Edwards campaign, Fieger attorney Richard Steinberg said.
Fieger contributed $2,000 to Edwards' primary campaign, the maximum allowed from an individual.
Of 14 employees of his law firm who gave money to candidates in the 2004 presidential election, 13 gave to Edwards, according to a search of Political Money Line, a nonpartisan campaign finance tracking system; each of them -- including a building manager and a courier supervisor -- gave the maximum $2,000.
Edwards spokeswoman Kim Rubey said the campaign learned about the federal investigation through news reports Thursday.
''The Edwards for President 2004 campaign held itself to the highest standards and went above and beyond legal requirements for campaign finance compliance,'' Rubey said in an e-mail. ''Sen. Edwards expects his staff and supporters to meet these standards.''
The affidavit supporting the government's request for the Fieger search warrant was sealed, and Fieger's attorneys filed a motion Thursday seeking to open it, claiming the government went beyond what a federal magistrate authorized.
In their search, agents targeted the law firm's senior bookkeeper and office manager and two employees who work with her, according to court documents filed after the warrant was executed. Among other things, they were looking for employment and compensation records; canceled checks and bank statements; tax records; and documents relating to candidates for federal, state or local office.
The 39 items seized included payroll binders and personnel files, Edwards for President ticket stubs and a Fieger for Governor folder, the court documents show. Fieger made an unsuccessful bid for governor in 1998.
Fieger was already the target of a separate, state investigation over campaign contributions. State Attorney General Mike Cox has also accused Fieger of trying to blackmail him, though no charges have been filed.