Bugged mayor a 'subject' in FBI inquiry

PHILADELPHIA - Mayor John Street's re-election campaign nearly halted Friday as he continued to be dogged by questions about why the FBI bugged his office and whether he is a suspect in a criminal inquiry.

In the three days since the listening devices were found in City Hall, Street has said repeatedly that he has been told by federal prosecutors that he is not the target of a criminal investigation.

A federal official, whom the Associated Press cited without identifying, said Street is a "subject" in the investigation. The legal term is used to describe a person whose conduct is within the scope of a criminal inquiry, although they themselves may not be suspected of breaking the law.

Speculation over whether Street or someone close to his administration could be in legal trouble has made it all but impossible for the Democratic mayor to campaign against his Republican opponent, Sam Katz.

Street skipped three of the four events on his public schedule Friday. Campaign aides said he attended the funeral of a firefighter who suffered a heart attack while helping extinguish a fire.

Street said his attorney told him to stop answering questions about the investigation.

The bugging was discovered Tuesday after the police commissioner ordered a routine sweep of the mayor's offices for surveillance devices.

Several news organizations reported earlier this week that federal law enforcement sources have confirmed that the FBI placed the bugs, but declined to say why.

In recent months, federal agents have subpoenaed city agencies for thousands of pages of records having to do with various city contracts, including a $13.6-million maintenance contract at Philadelphia International Airport.

Shortly after the bugs were found, FBI agents also confiscated Street's handheld computer.

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