William Powers office on 90 State St in Albany was the center of attention yesterday for FBI agents investigating ex-Congressman John Sweeney's connection with the former NY GOP Chairman and now-lobbyist. Powers and Sweeney have been buddies for a long time and now that Sweeney has been found to be a(n alleged) crook, it seems that the spoils of Republican leadership prior to 2006 was beneficial to Powers. At least a judge thought it was worthy enough to look at and see if information in Powers' office could help their case against Sweeney.
From The Times-Union:
ALBANY -- A federal criminal investigation is focusing on the relationship of lobbyist William D. Powers and former U.S. Rep. John E. Sweeney in connection with a series of federal grants that were steered to Powers' clients, according to several people familiar with the probe.
The probe is being overseen by the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section in Washington, D.C.Several people familiar with the case said it is centered on a period when Powers' clients received the earmarks while Sweeney's then-wife, Gayle, was working for Powers' Albany-based lobbying firm.
Armed with a search warrant, federal attorneys and FBI agents from Albany and Washington appeared at Powers & Co.'s 90 State St. office building on Friday. They confiscated files and interviewed employees who were encouraged to remain in the office during the search. It's not clear whether Powers was present.
Powers may or may not be involved with all of this, but there are interesting coincidences all around. Sweeney's wife at the time worked at Powers' firm until Sweeney lost his re-election bid. Now why would she suddenly lose her job (or resign, whatever) in such fashion? And does their subsequent divorce have anything to do with that? We'll have to see what the investigators find from Powers and if it comes out when Sweeney has his day in court.
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