The state Department of Legislative Services received yesterday a wide-ranging grand jury subpoena from federal prosecutors requesting "all documents relating to the office" of Sen. Ulysses Currie, a leading Prince George's County Democrat who is under investigation by the FBI in connection with his previously undisclosed consulting work for a regional grocery chain.
Karl S. Aro, executive director of the legislature's administrative office, said lawyers for the General Assembly spent yesterday in discussions with the U.S. attorney's office to try to "figure out exactly what it is they would like to see" so that the order's June 11 deadline can be met.
The subpoena - which asks for the budget committee chairman's personal and professional records and computers, along with all records kept by the committee staff - offered little insight into the nature of the FBI investigation, though it appears that the 70-year-old politician is the intended target.
Federal agents are asking for "notes, agendas, correspondence (including e-mails), calendars, appointment books, contacts ... financial records, outside employment with any entity, volunteer activities for any entity, charities, consulting activities for any entity ... interactions with any state or local government agency or board, or its personnel, and all other documents," according to a copy of the subpoena provided by Aro yesterday.
The state attorney general's office has directed Currie's staff to preserve all documents and records sought by the subpoena, said Daniel A. Friedman, counsel to the legislature.
Officials with the FBI and the U.S. attorney's office said they could not comment on a continuing investigation.
Last week, FBI agents searched Currie's District Heights home and the headquarters of Lanham-based Shoppers Food & Pharmacy, taking records from both.
Dale Kelberman, Currie's attorney, said he received yesterday an inventory of items seized from the senator's house. He declined to say what they were.
Officials with Supervalu, the Minnesota-based parent of Shoppers Food, have said that Currie was an "outside consultant" for the 64-store chain. The senator did not disclose any outside employment on his financial-disclosure forms, as is required by law.
As chairman of the powerful Budget and Taxation Committee, Currie shepherds the governor's annual operating and capital budgets through legislative changes and approval.
