COLUMBUS – Federal investigators have subpoenaed Mayor Michael Coleman for records involving city contracts with a red light camera company whose former CEO admitted to bribing officials.
READ MORE: In the Columbus Dispatch
The request was made as authorities cast a wider net in their investigation involving Redflex’s former executive, Karen Finley, who has pleaded guilty to bribery.
“I had no involvement in the decision to award the contract to Redflex,” Coleman said in a press release from his office this afternoon. “I do consider these allegations to be serious. As such, I will do whatever is necessary to assist the authorities.”
Coleman said in his statement he was “asked to provide” documents to federal investigators, but his spokeswoman confirmed to The Dispatch that he was issued a subpoena.
Coleman’s statement read in part: “The Department of Public Safety had the responsibility to evaluate and recommend the best option for the city. I am confident that the Department complied with the appropriate laws, rules, regulations, and city policies. I have asked the Department of Public Safety to work with the City Attorney to examine the procurement, contract, and legislative process associated with the photo red light program. I had no involvement in the decision to award the contract to Redflex. I, along with others, have received a request to provide documents to federal investigators and I am responding fully and completely. I encourage those who receive a request for information to cooperate as I am. While I am not the focus, I do consider these allegations to be serious. As such, I will do whatever is necessary to assist the authorities. It is important that the federal investigators are provided with the appropriate information so that all of the facts come out, so that justice can be served.”
Federal investigators have also subpoenaed Columbus City Council President Andrew Ginther to provide records. The Ohio Democratic Party was also asked to provide records related to Redflex and the company’s local lobbyist John Raphael.
The subpoenas stem from a plea agreement from former Redflex CEO Karen Finley, who said she passed money through Raphael and the Ohio Democratic Party to elected officials in Columbus and Cincinnati to secure contracts.
Finley, 55, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery on Friday in federal court. The city contracted with Redflex in 2005 to install red-light cameras in 2006.
Ginther has also denied any wrongdoing and said he is cooperating with the investigation.