By Bill Zeeble, KERA News
Dallas, TX – Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price says he has no idea why the FBI and Internal Revenue Service are looking into him. Yesterday, in a surprise move both raided the offices and home of Dallas County's longest-serving Commissioner. Neither agency would say why. KERA's Bill Zeeble reports.
At least 2 dozen FBI agents raided the Dallas County Administration building Monday morning. Their target? The office of Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price. Members of the public were kept out.
Agent: Excuse me sir you can't come in here. Need you to step back out...
Agents would not say what they were looking for nor why. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins says they didn't tell him much either.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins: The FBI is executing a search pursuant to a federal warrant. I cannot discuss or comment on the investigation. It's a federal matter.
County Commissioner Maurine Dickey says she was shocked but also pleased by the raid. For years, she has feuded with Price over alleged corruption in the County Constable's office, alleged voter fraud and other issues.
Dallas County Commissioner Maurine Dickey: I think it's a happy day for Dallas County because it's.. it offers hope that there's a higher authority than local people, that will come in and that will see if, will check on things and if there is wrong doing they'll do something about it.
The FBI also searched the office of Price's political consultant Kathy Nealy and the home of his assistant Daphne Fain, where boxes were reportedly removed. Commissioner Price says he's in the dark when it comes to what the authorities are seeking.
Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price: For 27 years I have represented my constituents and I plan to be around for the next 27 years. I have no idea what this is all about. I've seen the search warrants, and that's as far as it goes. I have not seen the affidavit. I have no clue as to where they're going. I mean I've been up against this once before. You know this is not the first time I've been up against adversity. So I look forward to a day in court.
Two years ago, then-Dallas County Judge Jim Foster testified in a legal proceeding that Price had been under an FBI investigation tied to the inland port development in southern Dallas County. Price says he will be in Commissioner's Court this morning to do the County's business he was elected to do.