BuckeyeBlog

The news that the FBI probe into the actions of Cuyahoga County officials Jimmy Dimora and Frank Russo is now expanding with a search of two judges’ chambers is pretty significant and doesn’t really need much commentary. I’d only note that unless you were a faithful reader of the Cleveland Plain Dealer you’d have little idea this probe was even taking place. C’mon, Dispatch, don’t you think that this type of federal investigation is worth covering?

Here is the latest development:

Agents appeared at the courtrooms of Common Pleas judges Bridget McCafferty and Steven Terry between 7 and 8 p.m.

FBI Special Agent Scott Wilson confirmed the searches were linked to the county corruption probe made public in July after FBI and IRS agents raided the homes and offices of county officials Jimmy Dimora, Frank Russo and Kevin Kelley, but he would not say what agents were searching for.

Terry is a political ally of Russo’s. Terry’s former bailiff, Michael Calabrese, 43, is a house mate of Russo’s. The two bought a house together in Mayfield.

A federal grand jury has begun hearing testimony and serving subpoenas to contractors and county officials. Dimora, Russo and Kelley are suspected of trading county contracts for work on their homes.

The investigators are also looking into hiring practices at the county, and whether county employees engaged in political work on public time, according to search warrants and other court documents.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer had an interesting editorial about embattled Cuyahoga County officials Jimmy Dimora and Frank Russo:

Politicians aren’t like the rest of us. Take those two walking ATM machines known as Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora and County Recorder Frank Russo.

They hired Nature Stone flooring to do some concrete work at their respective pools back in 2002. And like most of us hardworking wage slaves, they paid cash. At least, that’s what Nature Stone founder Russell Masetta says.

Dimora ponied up $10,125. Russo peeled a quick $7,990 off the roll in his pocket. These guys don’t carry wallets. They carry suitcases.

In case you forgot, Dimora and Russo are under federal investigation for a variety of corruption charges. Unless you subscribe to the Plain Dealer you probably wouldn’t have heard of this. There seems to be a distinct lack of coverage from the state’s other newspapers.

After the police raid targeting Cuyahoga County officials Jimmy Dimora and Frank Russo, David Hansen wondered why the New York Times had spent so much attention on Senator Ted Stevens but didn’t mention this scandal at all. Well, about a week-and-a-half late, the Times did indeed feature an article about the shenanigans in Cuyahoga County, although its angle was about how it would affect Barack Obama’s chance of winning the state.

It’s shameful that it took the Times this long to report on the story and it’s even worse that they chose not to actually delve into the details of the issue. As pointed out in David Hansen’s post on the issue, there are twice as many people who live in Cuyahoga County than live in Alaska. These folks under investigation are responsible for spending over a billion dollars in tax money. This investigation is a big deal. But I guess stories about things like the judging of baked goods at the Marquette County Fair are more important.

No, there doesn’t seem to be any connection with the Senator Ted Stevens scandal and what’s happening in Cuyahoga County with Commissioner Jimmy Dimora and Auditor Frank Russo. However, there is cause for concern that federal money (and possibly earmarks) are involved in this issue.

As the Plain Dealer blog points out:

Agents looked for any documents revealing Dimora’s role in the federal government’s “Veterans Administration Development Project.” Unclear is whether that refers to the expansion of the Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center in University Circle or the redevelopment of the former VA Hospital site in Brecksville.

Interestingly, Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones had this press release in February:

Today, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones announced that six new construction projects totaling $36,425,000 have been approved for the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

This money was not from earmarks, however, as the Fiscal Year 2008 Military Construction/VA bill did not have any. However, it would be very interesting to know if Mr. Dimora or others had requested such an earmark from Rep. Tubbs Jones (or from Senators Voinovich or Brown).

I think it would be a good idea for all of Ohio’s federal officials — but especially Representative Tubbs Jones and Senators Voinovich and Brown — to release information about any construction-related earmarks requested by the Cuyahoga County Commission.

It’s important to note that I’m not accusing these federal officials of having broken the law. But it is possible that they may have unwittingly helped Cuyahoga County receive federal funds that were then allocated by Mr. Dimora in ways that are now under investigation. Having more information would help us determine the extent of taxpayer money that may have been wasted.