Articles

FBI raids, searches Trenton mayor’s home

Category: National Published on Friday, 27 July 2012 10:04 Written by NNPA News Service

(NNPA)—Trenton, N.J.’s city hall was closed to the public at noon July 19 as FBI agents scoured municipal offices in an investigation of Mayor Tony Mack and his administration.

MAYOR TONY MACK

The search of city offices came a day after a July 18 early morning raid of Mack’s home and the homes belonging to his brother and a campaign fund donor.

"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," the Black first-term mayor said, according to CBS News.

NJ.com reported at least 10 agents stormed into Mack’s Berkeley Avenue home for a four-hour search ending at 6:15 a.m. They removed two boxes from the house.

The raids come after two tumultuous years for Mack as mayor of one of the nation’s poorest state capital cities and follow months of administrative turmoil, nepotism allegations and criminal corruption charges.

Since he was installed as mayor in July 2010, Mack has been the target of lawsuits and a recall petition, reported CBSNews.com. Mack’s first business administrator resigned after a month, assailing Mack’s approach to financial management. The successor pleaded guilty to embezzlement on another job and resigned. Mack’s housing director quit following revelations of a theft conviction and the mayor’s chief of staff was arrested on charges of attempting to buy heroin.

Local officials said they don’t know why Mack is being investigated. “All we can say is that we don’t confirm or deny involvement with this investigation,” said an unnamed spokesperson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey.

“At this time, it’s very unclear, and they have not disclosed any information to us,” said City Council President Phyllis Holly-Ward.