Lamb Makes Formal Request For Mayor's Bodyguards' Debit Card Records

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb says he wants a full accounting of the expenditures by the mayor's bodyguards. He made a formal request on Friday that all records be turned over.

"At some point there has to be some accountability," City Councilman Bill Peduto said. "You know, Harry Truman – 'the buck stops here' has been completely lost by Luke."

This latest flap on the bodyguards and their debit cards is red meat in the mayor's race and City Councilman Bill Peduto jumped on it.

KDKA's Andy Sheehan Reports:

"They're illegal, completely illegal," said Peduto. "You cannot take city money, put it into a different bank account, and then use it as your own."

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl maintains that while he did know the source of the funds, the money spent by his security officers was spent properly.

His other opponent, City Controller Lamb says he won't take the mayor at his word.

"While the mayor says they were legitimate expenditures of official purposes, they were drawn from an unauthorized bank of the city, and clearly aimed at keeping them secret from the public," said Lamb.

NewsRadio 1020 KDKA's interview with City Controller Lamb:

And in a letter to Mayor Ravenstahl, Lamb is requesting the records of all debit card transactions by the mayor's three bodyguards.

"We would check to see that they were proper spending of city money," Lamb said. "That they were indeed spent for official purposes to the degree that they weren't we would want to see proper reimbursements back if there was personal use."

But the mayor's office says it's already tried -- unsuccessfully -- to get those records from the police credit union, which they say is refusing to cooperate.

NewsRadio 1020 KDKA's Joe DeStio Reports:

The FBI has the records, but they won't fork them over either.

"We think if the mayor really pushed he can get them, and we want to see them," added Lamb.

KDKA's Andy Sheehan Reports:

RELATED LINKS:
Local Officials Weigh In On Harper's Ouster (2/21/13)
Mayor, Safety Director Deny Accusations Made By Retired Bodyguard (2/22/13)
More Related Stories