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| In this e-mail list from Charlie Le Duff's report on Fox 2 News 3/13/12 includes: Turkia Awada Mullin, John Truscott, John Rakolta, and Robert Ficano
The following is from the Detroit Free Press showing how this story has developed over the last few months.
"Subpoenas sent to Wayne count in November 2011 reveal that federal investigators looking at a possible pay-for-play scheme are zeroing in on two people, 14 companies and four arms of county government.
The subpoenas, obtained \ the Free Press, show agents want nearly five years of information on the work history, salaries and business relationships of ousted Metro Airport CEO Turkia Awada Mullin and former Deputy County Executive Azzam Elder, who resigned Nov. 3. Mullin served as the county's chief development officer before moving to Metro Airport on Sept. 7. The subpoenas also show, for the first time, that a grand jury already has been empaneled to probe Wayne County business dealings. "I think it's significant, because it means that it's gone up another level from an FBI investigation," said David Griem, a Detroit defense attorney and former federal prosecutor. Grand juries operate in secret and can compel testimony from reluctant witnesses. They were used extensively in the Detroit city hall pay-for play probe, which led to the indictments of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and others from his administration. No one has been charged in the county probe. The subpoenas are the clearest sign yet that the controversial Wayne County Business Development Corp., a nonprofit group funded by businesses and labor groups to promote economic activity, is a key part of the investigation. Seven of the 14 companies named in the subpoenas gave a total of $117,500 to the nonprofit in 2010 -- almost 60% of the money it generated. Three other companies gave in-kind contributions, according to tax filings the corporation released Tuesday. In addition, businesses that contributed to the development corporation -- and members of its board -- also often donate to Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano's political action committee. Federal agents hand-delivered the subpoenas to the county Oct. 19, seeking financial records, e-mails, contracts, bids and other documents. At the time, Ficano and other county officials said they were barred by law from discussing the subpoenas. In fact, the documents show that while the government did ask for secrecy, the feds made clear that disclosure was within the county's discretion. Mullin and Elder could not be reached for comment Wednesday. The subpoenas also seek employment information on the county's technology director, Tahir Kazmi. Kazmi said he had been advised, "I cannot talk to anybody about the subpoenas." In sweeping legal language, the subpoenas ask for all bidding and contract records involving the Boji Group; the Piston Group; the Sterling Group; Metro Cars; Steward Investments; Ghafari; Henry Ford Health System; Grand Sakwa Properties; Walbridge; RCP Associates; Strategic Staffing Solutions; Delta Air Lines; the Roxbury Group and Clark Hill. Most companies declined to comment or didn't return calls. The Henry Ford Health System contributed $12,500 in 2010 to the development corporation, said spokesman Dwight Angell, who called it a membership fee. "Henry Ford joined to support and promote the economic development opportunities for Wayne County and, in particular, for Detroit," he said in a statement, without further comment. Boji spokesman John Truscott said Ron Boji "has not bid on or received any county business. Boji is a great developer and has done business around the state, but not with Wayne County." Ron Boji, whose sister is married to Deputy County Executive Nader Fakhouri, did redevelop two closed car dealerships in the county that are being leased to the state for probation programs. The leases went through a state bidding process, not the county, Truscott said. Bob Berg, spokesman for Strategic Staffing Solutions, which received $2.7 million in county contracts since 2008, said that all the contracts have been competitively bid. Reginald Turner, of Clark Hill's executive committee, said the Clark Hill firm has done county work for years based on the quality of its legal work. He said his county work is billed at less than half his normal rate. Turner said Clark Hill did not make a cash contribution to the development corporation, but did provide free legal services. The grand jury also wants to see compensation and expense payments -- if any -- Mullin and Elder received from county organizations. Mullin's compensation has been at the center of the Wayne County scandal since the county acknowledged paying her a $200,000 severance when she voluntarily quit to run Metro Airport. Mullin later acknowledged receiving another $75,000 from the development corporation in 2010. The Free Press obtained the subpoenas from a source, then confirmed them with an official familiar with the documents" |
There are many interesting players in this case. One has to ask, what is the involvement of the Clark Hill law firm in this case? So far based on the information obtained by The Not So Lame Media, there does not appear to be anything illegal Reginald Turner of Clark Hill has done. It is odd though that he would bill Wayne County at less than half his normal rate and provide free legal services for the development corporation.
As a side bar, it should be noted that Clark Hill has a high profile attorney, Former Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R). He is currently running for Oakland County Prosecutor to replace current Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper (D).
It should be also noted that, Mitt Romney's National Co-Chair, John Rakolta's construction company Walbridge is one of the companies that has been subpeonaed. John Rakolta's company is also in Oakland County and his family is involved in Oakland County Republican Politics.
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