All Muck Is Local: Full DisclosureLast Thursday, in Prince George’s County, Maryland, a curious little drama began to unfold for Democratic state Senator Ulysses Currie.
On the morning of the 29th, the FBI raided the headquarters of Shoppers Food Warehouse (a D.C. area grocery chain). Shortly after, they showed up at Sen. Currie’s house with a warrant. The FBI took boxes from Shoppers’ headquarters and files from the senator’s home. Apparently, Currie has been serving as a consultant for the company, and failed to mention his lobbying work to the State Ethics Commission — even though state financial disclosure forms require “individual consulting activities” to be disclosed. Currie also participated in a vote to grant a liquor license to a Shoppers Food Warehouse in Takoma Park. Maryland state law required him to abstain from voting and publicly file a disclaimer saying why. No disclaimer was filed.
Sen. Currie, serving his fourth term in the Senate and head of the powerful Budget and Taxation Committee, seemed surprised. Though a Shoppers’ spokesperson confirmed the Senator had been consulting for them, and the FBI confirmed that the raid was related to his work as a consultant, Currie said he had “no idea” what they were investigating, and that the pair of raids was the first indication of any problem: “We have a legal system. That’s why we have a lawyer. Quite frankly, we don’t know. That’s why I’m asking the same questions of the lawyer,” said Currie, who referred all questions to his lawyer: “The lawyer said I should limit my discussion with the media, with my wife, with my children, with my dog,” His attorney, Dale Kelberman, declined to comment.
Shoppers Food Warehouse and the FBI are being similarly tight-lipped. The supermarket spokeswoman wouldn’t explain what Currie had been doing for the company, beyond, “various consulting operations.” According to a published report, Currie has received $7,500 in political contributions from Shoppers’ parent company since 2004. On Friday, the Baltimore Sun, citing anonymous sources reported that the FBI was preparing to subpoena Currie’s legislative records.
Through it all, Currie maintained his cool. “One, it doesn’t help to be worried,” Currie told reporters. “I think, two, you’ve got to be realistic to know they can always find something.”
