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FBI Raids Home of Maryland State Senator
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"The FBI has told us that they are working on an investigation related to one of our service providers," her statement said. "We are cooperating fully with the FBI and cannot provide additional detail at this time."
FBI agents were seen leaving Currie's home and the corporate offices with file folders and a box. Special Agent Rich Wolf, an FBI spokesman, declined to comment, saying, "It's an ongoing investigation."
In April 2005, Currie voted in favor of a bill that included a provision to facilitate the transfer of a liquor license from a Shoppers Food Warehouse in Takoma Park to another Shoppers location in College Park. The amendment authorizing the transfer was sponsored by his then-colleague, the late Sen. Gwendolyn Britt, and was also advocated by then-Sen. John Giannetti (D-Prince George's), who represented the area around the University of Maryland College Park. The bill passed the Senate 46 to 0. The transfer provoked strong opposition from the College Park City Council and others in the community.
Under Maryland ethics law, legislators are required to recuse themselves from votes on issues on which they have a direct conflict of interest. If a lawmaker believes he has only the appearance of a conflict and believes he can act impartially, the lawmaker is supposed to file a "disclaimer statement" with the Ethics Commission.
Currie has not filed a disclaimer statement since 1998, according to files maintained by the General Assembly's ethics counsel. That filing was specific to a bill that would have benefited the pensions of teachers.
According to three sources, Currie later attended the liquor board meeting where local commissioners used the new legislation to approve the Shoppers' license transfer. They asked to remain anonymous because of the ongoing investigation.
An aide to Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D) said that Miller, who represents part of Prince George's County, had no comment on the investigation.
Currie, the son of a North Carolina sharecropper, is considered a loyal soldier to Miller and has steered considerable spending to his district.
Staff writer Ruben Castaneda contributed to this report.
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