Targets of FBI, IRS Investigation Unknown

LOS ANGELES — A Federal Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman confirmed a task force has been formed to investigate political corruption in Orange County, but no information has been released about the impetus for the investigation.

Ari Dekofsky, an FBI spokeswoman, said a memorandum of understanding regarding the task force, which includes the FBI, IRS, district attorney's office and U.S. Attorney's office, was signed by the involved parties in April.

The task force has released no information about the scope of the investigation, the impetus for forming the task force, or which political leaders might be the targets of the investigation.

The agreement between the federal agencies and the district attorney's office was formalized in April, but had been in the works for some time, Dekofsky said.

The task force, formed to investigate political corruption in Orange County, "isn't related to anything in particular," Dekofsky said. "It is just a joint cooperative effort."

She added that the FBI has formed similar task forces all over the country. The only formal task forces in California are in Riverside and Orange County, but Dekofsky said they have not ruled out forming similar task forces elsewhere in the state.

"They are denying it is related to the civil grand jury report," said John Moorlach, chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

A civil grand jury released a 35-page report in June alleging a pattern of corruption exists in the county and recommending county supervisors establish a blue ribbon ethics commission.

"I don't sense that I'm the target," Moorlach said. "What I'm incensed about is that they are painting with broad brush strokes without released anything specific."

Thus far, the FBI has made no requests for documents from the Orange County supervisors, nor have they interviewed anyone that Moorlach is aware of.

"It's all speculation and innuendo with nothing concrete," Moorlach said.

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Enforcement California
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