DeMarinis said yesterday that he intends to seek clarification from the attorney general's office before responding.
According to a 1993 opinion by then-Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr., "an official may use campaign funds to pay debts incurred in the defense of a criminal prosecution" only if they are "directly related to alleged campaign improprieties."
Currie had nearly $360,000 in his campaign fund as of February, according to campaign finance filings.
The FBI and the U.S. attorney's office declined again yesterday to discuss details of their investigation, but it appears to center on Currie's work for Shoppers in recent years. According to the grocery store chain's parent company, Supervalu Inc., the chairman of the powerful Budget and Taxation Committee has been an "outside consultant" for the 64-store Shoppers chain.
On at least several occasions, Currie got involved in state business concerning Shoppers.
He apparently asked state highway officials in 2005 to expedite a traffic-light project near a shopping center where the grocery chain planned to open a store, according to an e-mail from State Highway Administrator Neil J. Pedersen. Pedersen was interviewed by federal officials June 9, Cahalan said.
Also in 2005, the county delegation that included Currie sponsored a bill that facilitated the transfer of a liquor license from one Shoppers store to another. And in 2006, Currie attended meetings during which Washington Metro officials, Prince George's County officials and Shoppers representatives discussed the possible commercial development of an area near the West Hyattsville Metro station.
There are so far no indications that Currie intervened on behalf of Shoppers at Mondawmin Mall.
The state has pledged $1.8 million to the mall, which would go to the mall's owner, General Growth Properties, for renovation of the property. The city also kicked in $15 million in tax increment financing for an expansion of the mall. But M.J. "Jay" Brodie, president of the Baltimore Development Corp., said Shoppers has not received any direct financial incentives from the city.
Asked whether Currie attended meetings regarding the Mondawmin redevelopment or contacted anyone at the Baltimore Development Corp. about the new Shoppers store there, William L. Beckford, a BDC managing director said: "As the lead person on the Mondawmin Mall project, my personal answer to both of your questions ... is no."
Karen Glenn-Hood, a spokeswoman for the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, has said neither Shoppers Food nor Supervalu is a direct beneficiary of state subsidies.
gadi.dechter@baltsun.com
Sun reporters Laura Smitherman and Julie Bykowicz contributed to this article.
