FBI Investigating Obama Confidant and Union Chief Andy Stern?
September 28, 2010, 12:03 PM
By Warner Todd Huston
This is pretty momentous information. According to two people interviewed by federal agents the FBI and the U.S. Labor Dept. are investigating former Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Andy Stern.
Stern unexpectedly resigned in April as president of one of the most powerful unions in the nation. This news might explain why. He may have known that he was being investigated.
Accusations include questions over a $175,000 advance for a book deal that Stern pocketed.
**UPDATE**
SEIU spokesman Ringuette flatly denies that former chief Andy Stern has âbeen contactedâ by the FBI. It should be noted that no news of the possible investigation into Andy Stern asserted that the FBI has contacted him directly.
September 28, 2010, 12:03 PM
By Warner Todd Huston
This is pretty momentous information. According to two people interviewed by federal agents the FBI and the U.S. Labor Dept. are investigating former Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Andy Stern.
- The two organized labor officials met with federal agents this summer to answer questions about a six-figure book contract that Stern landed in 2006 and his role in approving money to pay the salary of an SEIU leader in California who allegedly performed no work.
Stern unexpectedly resigned in April as president of one of the most powerful unions in the nation. This news might explain why. He may have known that he was being investigated.
Accusations include questions over a $175,000 advance for a book deal that Stern pocketed.
- One person who spoke to federal agents twice, in May and June, said they asked about a 2006 contract in which Stern received a $175,000 advance from Simon & Schuster to write the book âA Country That Works.â The SEIU and its locals bought thousands of copies of the book after it was published. The union also paid thousands to fact-check and promote the book, but Stern pocketed the advance.
**UPDATE**
SEIU spokesman Ringuette flatly denies that former chief Andy Stern has âbeen contactedâ by the FBI. It should be noted that no news of the possible investigation into Andy Stern asserted that the FBI has contacted him directly.