Federal agents have searched Allentown City Hall, questioned the mayor and top manager and seized documents pertaining to bidding and contracts.
City solicitor Susan Ellis Wild said FBI agents spent several hours Thursday executing a search warrant for a grand jury investigation.
Wild said agents questioned three-term Mayor Ed Pawlowski and Managing Director Francis Dougherty and collected records dating as far back as 2005 from several offices.
Wild said it appeared agents were interested in the city's contract review process and bidding process.
The mayor's communication manager said Friday the city hasn't been told why it's being investigated, but assumes by the documents taken, Allentown's contract process is under review.
"The mayor would like th epublic to know that the city maintains a transparent contracting system," Mike Moore said in a statement from the mayor's office. "The city believes it has acted appropriately at all times. The city will continue to cooperate with the investigation and believes it will result in a finding that is fair, open and honest."
Wild said search documents did not identify the subject of the investigation. She said no city officials or employees have been subpoenaed to testify or told they are a target of the probe.
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The FBI declined to comment.
