From The Associated Press, 10/8/03:
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20031008_1947.html
FBI Planted Bugging Device in Philadelphia Mayor's Office, Federal Law
Officials Say
PHILADELPHIA --
Federal law enforcement officials on Wednesday confirmed that
listening devices found in the offices of Mayor John F. Street were
planted by the FBI a discovery that touched off a political furor just
weeks before Election Day.
Three federal law enforcement officials, speaking on condition of
anonymity, acknowledged that the FBI was responsible for the bug, but
refused to comment on whether the Democratic mayor is a target of an
investigation or to provide any details about the nature of the probe.
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a Democrat, and Sen. Arlen Specter, a
Republican, were among several politicians who called on the FBI
Wednesday to tell the public what it knows about the eavesdropping
equipment, found Tuesday.
"I think given this extraordinary situation with four weeks to go in
the campaign, it is incumbent upon the FBI to say why they planted the
device," Rendell said.
The bug was found during a routine sweep of Street's office by police.
Street is locked in a bitter rematch against Republican businessman
Sam Katz, and the campaign has been marked by charges of threats and
race-baiting. Election Day is Nov. 4.
At a meeting with reporters Wednesday, Street said for the second day
that he didn't know who bugged his office or why.
"I haven't done anything wrong, and I don't know that anybody in my
cabinet or in my staff around me has done anything wrong," Street
said.
Street's campaign suggested the bugging was instigated by the U.S.
Justice Department for political reasons.
"The timing of the discovery of these listening devices seems
incredibly strange, seeing that we are four weeks out of the election,
and we have a Democratic mayor ahead in the polls, and we are on the
eve of the first mayoral debate," Street campaign spokesman Frank Keel
said.
"Do we believe that the Republican Party, both at the federal level
and state level, is pulling out every stop to get Pennsylvania in
2004? Absolutely," Keel said.
"Is the Republican Party capable of dirty tricks? I think that is
well-documented."
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So what's new?
Harry
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