FBI looks to public to weed out corruption

Denver and the west

Amid renewed awareness, agents set up a hotline and e-mail address to gather tips.
By Felisa Cardona The Denver Post
Posted: 12/22/2008 12:30:00 AM MST
Updated: 12/22/2008 12:33:12 PM MST

The Denver FBI wants to know whether government officials are engaged in criminal activities that violate the public's trust — such as awarding political favors in exchange for cash. Agents want to take advantage of the public's renewed awareness of public corruption as the scandal surrounding Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich — who has denied any wrongdoing — unfolds. "We feel like the general public needs to be aware and realize there is an avenue where they can call and e-mail complaints of public corruption if they think something going on is not quite right," said Special Agent Kathleen Wright of the Denver FBI. Last week, the Denver FBI set up a hotline and an e-mail address for tipsters in Colorado and Wyoming to leave information if they believe a public official is committing a crime. "We encourage people to send an e-mail or leave voice-mail information so we can have an agent recontact them if we need to know some more details about what they are reporting," Wright said. "Just because someone calls and says, 'So and so is corrupt,' doesn't mean we can open a full investigation. We need a few more details to look into it and enough information to move forward." Wright says agents prefer tipsters leave a name and number, but if the only way to give the information is to leave it anonymously, then the tip should be very specific. "Give us enough information and details so we know who we are looking at and what we are looking at," she said. Public-corruption crimes usually involve someone who is a government contractor or employee who uses their position for personal gain. "This could be anything from legislative corruption to judicial corruption to election fraud and even law-enforcement corruption," she said. Denver FBI agents do not have any public-corruption cases pending, and Wright says that could mean there is no corruption here or it's just not being reported.

Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com