PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Law enforcement officials raided the office and home of House Speaker Gordon Fox on Friday as part of a criminal investigation by the U.S. attorneys office, FBI, IRS and state police. Officials would not say who or what was being investigated, but authorities worked for hours inside the Democratic House speakers Statehouse office while state police troopers stood outside. Authorities entered the office carrying an evidence bag and empty cardboard boxes Friday morning. Foxs spokesman, Larry Berman, said state police had asked everyone working in the office to leave but he didnt know why. At around 4 p.m., a dozen authorities exited Foxs office carrying boxes and other items. Several news outlets reported that Fox returned to his home on the East Side of Providence on Friday afternoon, shortly after FBI agents removed boxes from it. He did not comment. A U.S. attorneys office spokesman, Jim Martin, wouldnt comment when asked whether the House speaker was being investigated. He said two federal search warrants had been executed, but he wouldnt say whether they were connected to Fox. Fox is just the latest politician to be wrapped up in a criminal investigation in Rhode Island, a state with a long history of elected officials getting into trouble with the law. Former Independent Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci, one of the longest-serving mayors in U.S. history, went to prison in 2002 for racketeering conspiracy after a federal probe found he presided over widespread corruption in office. Former Republican Gov. Edward DiPrete went to prison in the 1990s after admitting he took bribes in office. Fox has represented Providence for more than two decades in the states part-time General Assembly, and he became the nations first openly gay House speaker in 2010. He has a private law practice. A spokeswoman for Democratic Gov. Lincoln Chafee said he wasnt commenting on the investigation. He has been briefed on the situation, and he continues to be updated by R.I. State Police Colonel Steven ODonnell, Faye Zuckerman wrote in an email. Lawmakers were already maneuvering Friday to replace Fox. House Majority Leader Nick Mattiello said that he was among those who hoped to become the next House speaker. He was camped out in a restaurant in the citys Federal Hill neighborhood Friday afternoon making calls to fellow Democrats and called an informational caucus for Friday evening to talk about the future of the House. He said the news of the raids was unsettling, but he stopped short of calling for Fox to relinquish his leadership position. I dont know the facts that led to todays event, Mattiello said. He said he hadnt spoken to Fox yet but planned to call him. Asked at the Statehouse on Friday afternoon if Fox had plans to resign, Berman said, Not that Im aware of. Im sure hes talking to advisers about his future, he added. Berman said he wasnt aware that any other lawmakers were questioned as part of the investigation. He said that Fox has had many great accomplishments as speaker and that whatever this investigation is about, I dont think it reflects on his legislative achievements. In January, Fox agreed to a settlement with the state ethics commission for failing to disclose he had done more than $40,000 in legal work for a Providence economic development agency. Fox acknowledged breaking a law that requires elected officials to annually report whether they received more than $250 in income from a government agency and agreed to pay a $1,500 civil fine. Lawyer Albin Moser, who represented Fox in the recent complaint before the state ethics commission, wouldnt comment on Fridays events or say whether he is still representing Fox. Jason Grammitt, of the state ethics commission, said the office wasnt involved in the investigation but wouldnt comment on whether its staff had referred anything from its earlier investigation to federal or state authorities.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 00:27:33 +0000
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