By Anick Jesdanun
Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, June 10, 1998; 6:26 p.m. EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Justice Department officials have told the chairman of the House Transportation Committee that he is not the target of a criminal investigation, his lawyer said Wednesday.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston has been looking into issues related to Rep. Bud Shuster, R-Pa., and an $11 billion highway construction project in Boston known as the ``Big Dig.'' Shuster's panel had considerable influence over the project's finances.

``There is no investigation involving Bud Shuster,'' said Stephen Delinsky, one of Shuster's Boston lawyers. ``Bud Shuster is not the target of any federal investigation. He was explicitly told that by the Department of Justice.''

His remarks came as the House ethics committee suspended part of its investigation of Shuster in deference to the separate Justice Department inquiry.

Neither Justice spokesman John Russell nor Amy Rindskopf, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston, would comment on Delinsky's remarks.

Delinsky said he was informed the status of the investigation a few weeks ago by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Leake, a prosecutor assigned to the case, and U.S. Attorney Donald K. Stern. The statement does not necessarily clear Shuster of criminal action. Delinsky said he could not speculate on whether Shuster might later become a target.

A federal grand jury in Boston has been looking into whether Shuster aided two campaign contributors over disputes they had with the ``Big Dig'' project, according to sources.

The House ethics panel had been separately looking into Shuster and his influence over transportation issues.