Working Families Party to Face No U.S. Charges

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/21/nyregion/21working.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail0=y

By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE
Published: August 20, 2010

Federal prosecutors have closed an investigation of the Working Families Party without filing any charges, party officials said on Friday. It is a major boost for the beleaguered organization as it gears up for statewide elections in November.

Dan Levitan, a Working Families spokesman, said the party’s lawyers had been informed of the decision on Thursday night by the office of the United States attorney for the Southern District.

“The Working Families Party and Data and Field Services cooperated fully with the extensive investigation conducted by the government,” Mr. Levitan said in a statement. “We are gratified that the federal investigation has concluded and look forward to continuing our work for good schools, good jobs and good government.”

A spokeswoman for the Southern District, citing the office’s standard policy not to confirm or deny the existence of investigations, said she could not comment.

Known for its left-leaning politics and formidable voter turnout operation, the Working Families Party, founded by a coalition of labor unions and liberal organizations, enjoyed a banner year in the 2009 New York City elections. It played a critical role in the election of Bill de Blasio, the public advocate, and John C. Liu, the city comptroller, as well as several members of the City Council.

But it quickly drew accusations from Republicans and others that it had circumvented campaign-finance laws by providing cut-rate campaign services to favored candidates through an affiliated for-profit group, Data and Field Services.

FULL story at link.