Robert Sciarrino / The Star-Ledger
A agent from the FBI enters the Department of Administration Division of Purchasing at City Hall in Trenton, N.J., where other agents searched file cabinets.
AP Photo / Mel Evans
By Jonathan Dienst and Shimon Prokupecz, NBCNewYork.com
FBI agents are searching offices in Trenton City Hall Thursday morning, a day after the feds raided the home of Trenton's mayor, whose two-year administration of New Jersey's impoverished capital city has been marked by accusations of nepotism and reckless spending.
A city worker who asked not to be identified told NBC 4 New York that FBI agents were seen searching the mayor's second-floor offices and the city's economic development offices on the third floor.
The search of City Hall comes one day after FBI agents searched the home of Trenton?Mayor Tony Mack.? They also searched the homes of his brother Ralphiel Mack and campaign contributor Joseph "JoJo" Giorgianni.
See the original report at NBCNewYork.com
On Wednesday morning, hours after the FBI's pre-dawn raid of his home, Mack, 46, denied any wrongdoing.
"We have not violated the public trust nor have I violated any of my public duties and that's all I have to say on the matter," he said.
No arrests have been made and an FBI spokeswoman declined to comment, except to confirm searches are under way in connection with an ongoing investigation.? A spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman also declined to comment.
Times of Trenton photo gallery: City Hall is raided by FBI
Times of Trenton report
Mack's administration has been in turmoil from Day 1, staggering from one crisis to another. A housecleaning of staff at City Hall opened the door for Mack's own appointees, who quickly turned it into a revolving door. Some left over questions about their credentials, others to face criminal charges.
Under an agreement reached last year, the Democrat can only hire department heads from a pool of applicants the state offers or he risks losing $6 million in state aid.
A citizens' group last year failed to get enough signatures to force a recall election.
Watch US News videos on NBCNews.com
In Mack's first year in office in Trenton, a city of 85,000, he ran through a string of business administrators. The first resigned after a month, saying the mayor didn't believe in "good government." Another resigned just ahead of pleading guilty to embezzlement at another job.
His housing director quit after it emerged that he had a theft conviction. His chief of staff was arrested trying to buy heroin. His half-brother, whose authority he elevated at the city water plant, was arrested on charges of stealing.
Questions have also been raised about how he financed his campaign for mayor.
FBI raids home of New Jersey capital's mayor
A former longtime city employee sued the mayor late last year. The parks department employee said she was let go after refusing to dole out jobs for the mayor's friends, refusing to give federal grant money to people who didn't apply and for inquiring about city funds she said were missing.
The ex-employee also said she was replaced by a Mack supporter who never showed up for his $40,000-a-year job.
More content from NBCNews.com:
Follow US News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook
?
nick perry 30 rock live nfl draft picks 2012 space shuttle enterprise ryan leaf ryan leaf luke kuechly
No comments:
Post a Comment