Fumo Probe Moves to Harrisburg

The FBI visited Harrisburg to ask questions about the senator's role in taxpayer grants given to the Independence Seaport Museum.

By Mario F. Cattabiani, Craig R. McCoy and John Sullivan

Inquirer Staff Writers


HARRISBURG - Federal investigators have extended their probe into State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo's dealings to the state Capitol, where FBI agents this week began trying to unravel the taxpayer grants the powerful legislator helped funnel to a Philadelphia maritime museum.

Two people familiar with the investigation said yesterday that agents were in Harrisburg to determine what role Fumo played in securing what lawmakers here call "walking around money" grants, or WAMs, for the Independence Seaport Museum.

Yesterday, Gov. Rendell would confirm only that the FBI had interviewed administration aides regarding the grants, which are controlled by legislative leaders to fund their pet projects.

"They wanted to learn how the WAM process works, how the money gets in the budget, who gives the requests, and how it gets authorized," Rendell said. "They wanted to get an understanding of how it works. This truly was just informational."

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