Probe widens: Feds subpoena records from Franklin County commissioners
…And the scandal rolls on…
Earlier this summer, the former CEO of the red light camera company Redflex entered a guilty plea to charges that she bribed elected officials in the city of Columbus in order to acquire and extend contracts with the city. Court records appear to indicate that the bribes were funneled through local lobbyist John Raphael. Columbus City Council President and mayoral candidate Andrew Ginther was among those linked to the story. In the wake of the revelations, the FBI launched an investigation into Mayor Michael Coleman and his finances. A Columbus City Councilwoman recently resigned as questions began to surface about her possible connections to Raphael. And last week, FBI investigators questioned Raphael at their office downtown.
Now, the investigation is widening. The Franklin County Board of Commissioners has been served with subpoenas for its records related to dealings with John Raphael. Raphael has represented numerous companies and groups in their dealings with the county.
The county says that they will fully cooperate with information requests from the feds. (jj)
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