It turns out that the state Attorney General is investigating the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, according to news reports.
The news came out today from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and other media outlets. A statewide grand jury is looking into patronage and possible "pay-to-play" contracts, the Tribune-Review is reporting on its Web site. You can read that story here.
And here's what the Associated Press is reporting today:
Pa. Turnpike says AG has subpoenaed its documents
By MARC LEVY and MARK SCOLFORO
Associated Press Writers
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission said Friday it was cooperating with a demand for documents by state prosecutors, but the subject of the investigation was not clear.
Turnpike spokesman Bill Capone said records had not yet been turned over.
"We can't provide you with any other details of when it came, or what it's about or anything like that," he said.
Kevin Harley, a spokesman for Attorney General Tom Corbett, declined comment.
Turnpike officials called the governor's office Friday to disclose the receipt of a subpoena, and aides informed Gov. Ed Rendell.
"I talked to the governor," he said, 'Well, certainly they need to comply and cooperate fully with the investigation,'" said Steve Crawford, Rendell's chief of staff.
The existence of the subpoena was first reported Friday by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Capone said he "did not know anything official" about reports that a grand jury was examining possible corruption at the agency, which has been criticized as a patronage haven.
In September, The Morning Call of Allentown reported that a former turnpike employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he had been questioned by a grand jury about patronage, campaign donations and contracts.
Turnpike chief executive Joe Brimmeier declined to discuss the investigation.
"I am not commenting on anything regarding any of those things until everything is sorted out," he said.
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