FBI seizes Ohio official's memos, scheduling books
AP , Cleveland: Jul 29 2008
Made Popular Jul 29 2008
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United States :

Federal agents who raided the office and home of a top Cuyahoga County official as part of a corruption probe were looking for evidence on fundraising, travel and contacts with outside contractors, according to an inventory of seized items released Tuesday.

The items included Commissioner Jimmy Dimora’s appointment books, employment applications, fundraising memos and construction project documents.

The list was released at a news conference with Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones, a fellow Democrat who is president of the three-member commission.

Jones said people in the county, a Democratic stronghold that includes Cleveland, were sickened by the sight of FBI agents raiding the home and offices of Dimora and his friend and political ally, county Auditor Frank Russo, on Monday.

The exact focus of the investigation wasn’t disclosed, but The Plain Dealer reported in a story published Tuesday that agents were looking into allegations that Dimora and Russo traded county jobs and contracts for thousands of dollars in free improvements to their spacious suburban homes.

No one has been charged in the investigation, and Dimora and Russo haven’t commented. Messages were left for both officials at their offices Tuesday.

Jones said Dimora had told him he was shocked by the search and felt he hadn’t done anything wrong. Jones added he never felt pressured by Dimora to back any government contract.

Despite the probe, Jones said he feels that Dimora is entitled to participate in all his official duties, including voting on future contracts.

FBI and Internal Revenue Service agents entered a county office building as part of a series of 10 coordinated raids that included contractors who have done business with the county. Jones said most contracts involving companies that were raided represented the lowest and best bidders.

Jones said he had no information on what direction the investigation was headed. FBI spokesman Scott Wilson said he couldn’t comment on any aspect of the investigation.

The corruption probe comes amid a civic push to reform and streamline the county government.

Cuyahoga County Commissioner Tim Hagan, a Democrat, urged the Republican-controlled state Legislature in the spring to pass a bill that would cut the number of elected county officials by more than half.

As a compromise, the Legislature created a nine-member commission to study reforms and make recommendations in time for a November vote.

House Speaker Jon Husted said Tuesday he received a lot of “angry pushback” to the reform commission from Dimora and members of the Democratic Caucus in the Ohio House.

“The mission of the reform commission certainly will now have a higher profile and will have more meaning as people look at the possibility of problems inside government in Cuyahoga County,” Husted said. “They will see a greater sense of urgency and purpose in what we’re trying to accomplish with this commission.”

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Associated Press writer Stephen Majors in Columbus contributed to this report

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