Do you remember Mayor John Street (PA) who's office was bugged while he

[Blue_Roses]

was running for re-election? He was in a tight race with his republican opponent. Sheds new light into this story. Why isn't anyone talking about this?

_____________________________________________________-

Wednesday :: October 08, 2003
FBI Confirms It Planted Bug in Mayor's Office

The FBI has confirmed it planted a concealed listening device in the office of Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street. The agency refuses to say whether the bug was legally or illegally installed.

The bug was found during a routine sweep of Street's office by police. The Democrat is a locked in a bitter rematch against Republican businessman Sam Katz, and the campaign has been marked by charges of threats and race-baiting. Election Day is Nov. 4.

At a meeting with reporters Wednesday, Street said for the second day that he didn't know who bugged his office or why. "I haven't done anything wrong, and I don't know that anybody in my cabinet or in my staff around me has done anything wrong," Street said. Street's campaign suggested the bugging was instigated by the U.S. Justice Department for political reasons.

If the FBI is publicly acknowledging putting a bug in the Mayor's office, we suspect it one that was lawfully obtained. Meaning the correct procedure was followed to get it. But that doesn't mean it will turn out to be legally valid. That takes months for courts to determine.

Why won't the FBI or Justice Department acknowledge a lawful order now? They may believe they are prohibited from disclosing details about it until a Court authorizes them to do so. Here's how it works:

more...


http://talkleft.com/new_archives/003977.html

[Catherine Vincent]

1. Yes, I remember that.

I wonder if any of his people investigated this? I would think he would have sicked the state's attorney general to do this.

[babylonsister]

2. This could 'shed new light' for at least 5 years, if not more. The

possibilities are amazing, staggering, and eye-opening. And FWIW, it makes me sad. :cry:

[bigtree]

3. another political target of government snooping.

[Blue_Roses]

5. you know, I think alot of us here at DU

thought that at the time, but since there was no proof we just looked like a bunch of tin foilers.

[bigtree]

7. It's still unclear why. Street was never told he was under investigation.

Street said he was not the subject of an investigation. And his campaign spokesman, Frank Keel, on Wednesday questioned the timing of the discovery and the FBI's comments.

"What the campaign does find incredibly curious is that the FBI could so quickly leap to the conclusion that this was not related to the mayoral campaign in any way, shape or form," Keel said.

Asked directly whether he was suggesting that a Republican-controlled Justice Department had bugged Street's office for political reasons, Keel said: "Do we believe that the Republican Party, both at the federal level and state level, is pulling out every stop to get Pennsylvania in 2004? Absolutely. Is the Republican Party capable of dirty tricks? I think that is well documented."

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20031008-0821-mayorsofficebugged.html

[Blue_Roses]

9. here's more on it

...Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said that with a mayoral election looming on Nov. 4, the FBI had an "overwhelming duty" to tell the public what it knows about the surveillance equipment, found Tuesday morning during a routine sweep of Street's office by city police.

"I think given this extraordinary situation with four weeks to go in the campaign, it is incumbent upon the FBI to say why they planted the device," said Rendell, adding he had no firsthand knowledge of the FBI's involvement. "I think they've got an obligation to the people of Philadelphia to tell why they planted it."

FBI spokesman Linda Vizi said the equipment was not connected to campaign espionage, but she refused to say whether Street was being investigated or whether the FBI planted the device. She also wouldn't explain how the FBI could say so quickly that the device was not connected to the mayor's race.


A spokeswoman for Rendell, Kate Philips, said the governor had spoken to Street about the bugging, and the mayor said law enforcement sources had informed him that the bugs were planted as part of a federal probe. Street also told Rendell that he had been informed that he was not the investigation's "specific target," Philips said.

Street's campaign suggested the bugging could have been instigated by the Bush administration.

Asked directly whether he was suggesting that a Republican-controlled Justice Department had bugged Street's office for political reasons, Keel said:

"Do we believe that the Republican Party, both at the federal level and state level, is pulling out every stop to get Pennsylvania in 2004? Absolutely. Is the Republican Party capable of dirty tricks? I think that is well documented."

more...

http://www.nbc10.com/politics/2541019/detail.html


_______________________________________________

[FreedomAngel82]

4. Very interesting

I never heard anything of that. Has anyone looked up the republican guy and who gave him money? :shrug: I'm not saying he did it but it would be interesting to find out who and why that happened.

[readmoreoften]

6. Here's the sad part.

John Street is so damn corrupt that I wouldn't be surprised if the wiretap had nothing to do with Sam Katz, who's an extremely moderate republican who's almost indistinguishable from a DLC dem as far as I'm concerned. Street is so bad that a few local Democrat groups refused to endorse him because of his homophobic and anti-woman stances.

[flyarm]

8. i sure do remember it!! n/t

[texpatriot2004]

10. Makes me wonder exactly who they were listening to? nm

[Blue_Roses]

11. looking for dirt on Street

seems I remember something about this happening during election time a couple of decades ago