Mayor’s use of police could bring subpoena
Mayor’s use of police could bring subpoena
December 18, 2009 – 1:30pm
WASHINGTON – A D.C. councilmember is threatening to subpoena records from the police department regarding Mayor Adrian Fenty’s use of police resources after a WTOP investigation.
Phil Mendelson sent a letter to D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier requesting a detailed account of the costs associated with the mayor’s security detail, and whether the mayor has ever reimbursed the city for the use of the detail for non-official business and why the mayor uses police resources to transport his bike to competitive events.
Mendelson is oversees the police department as chairman of the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary.
Last month, WTOP reported that Fenty was using police motorcycle escorts so his cycling team could ride on roads where bikes are not permitted, block traffic and run red lights. It was also reported that Fenty used Homeland Security vehicles and tax dollars to have his bike transported around the country when he competes in triathlons.
Fenty has discontinued the use of the motorcycle escort and has pledged to only ride where bikes are permitted. But he has refused to answer any specific questions about his use of the security detail.
Mendelson received a one paragraph letter from D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles in response to his questions. Nickles wrote: “It is not appropriate to reply specifically to your questions.”
“As a result of that,” Mendelson tells WTOP. “I asked our committee to launch an investigation so we would have subpoena power.”
After the the threat of getting another subpoena from the council, Nickles called Mendelson to work out a compromise.
“At the last minute, the attorney general acquiesced and said we would get a written response.” Mendelson says. “It shouldn’t have to be this way. What we have found increasingly as a council is that we have to resort to subpoena power to get information.”
Mendelson is still waiting for Nickles’ response.
(Copyright 2009 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
Mark Segraves, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – A D.C. councilmember is threatening to subpoena records from the police department regarding Mayor Adrian Fenty’s use of police resources after a WTOP investigation.
Phil Mendelson sent a letter to D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier requesting a detailed account of the costs associated with the mayor’s security detail, and whether the mayor has ever reimbursed the city for the use of the detail for non-official business and why the mayor uses police resources to transport his bike to competitive events.
Mendelson is oversees the police department as chairman of the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary.
Last month, WTOP reported that Fenty was using police motorcycle escorts so his cycling team could ride on roads where bikes are not permitted, block traffic and run red lights. It was also reported that Fenty used Homeland Security vehicles and tax dollars to have his bike transported around the country when he competes in triathlons.
Fenty has discontinued the use of the motorcycle escort and has pledged to only ride where bikes are permitted. But he has refused to answer any specific questions about his use of the security detail.
Mendelson received a one paragraph letter from D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles in response to his questions. Nickles wrote: “It is not appropriate to reply specifically to your questions.”
“As a result of that,” Mendelson tells WTOP. “I asked our committee to launch an investigation so we would have subpoena power.”
After the the threat of getting another subpoena from the council, Nickles called Mendelson to work out a compromise.
“At the last minute, the attorney general acquiesced and said we would get a written response.” Mendelson says. “It shouldn’t have to be this way. What we have found increasingly as a council is that we have to resort to subpoena power to get information.”
Mendelson is still waiting for Nickles’ response.
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