EXCLUSIVE: Teverow Subpoenaed by Feds in Speaker Fox Investigation
Monday, November 03, 2014
GoLocalProv has learned that Providence Economic Development Partnership (PEDP) attorney Joshua Teverow has been subpoenaed by the Department of Justice in the investigation of former Speaker Gordon Fox.
In documents obtained in a public records request, GoLocal has learned that Teverow has turned over documents to Assistant U.S. Attorney Dulce Donovan. Now, Teverow is seeking that PEDP pay his legal bills.
Among the documents Teverow has turned over to the U.S. Attorney are copies of payments Teverow made to then-House Majority Leader Gordon Fox.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTTeverow Seeks Indemnification, is a Federal Source, and Wants Legal Fees Paid
According to a letter from Teverow’s attorney Patrick J. Quinlan to PEDP counsel, Teverow is seeking attorney fees and indemnification from PEDP. In the letter, Quinlan writes, “I have been advised by the U.S. Attorney’s office that Mr. Teverow is not a target or a suspect in the investigation. Rather, he is a “friendly” witness who’s being asked to testify before the Federal Grand Jury about his work for the PEDP on this matter.”
The Quinlan letter to PEDP confirms reports from two sources that claim Teverow is now acting as a corroborating witness for Federal authorizes in the ongoing Fox investigation.
In documents obtained by GoLocal that had previously been provided to the U.S. government as part of the Fox investigation are pages and pages of cancelled checks and breakdown of legal fees split between Teverow and Fox for legal work. In addition, in the letters from Quinlan on Teverow’s behalf, he writes, “While Mr. Teverow is not concerned in the last bit with his legal exposure relating to this matter, he is naturally concerned about his professional reputation being unfairly and unreasonably tarnished, either publicly or with the PEDP Board.”
Loans Past Due or in Default for Fox
Within the documents are 32 PEDP closings in which Teverow cut checks to Fox for “legal work”, many of those companies that received loans are significantly past due or in default and for at least one company, Fox was legal counsel. The fact pattern mirrors the findings of the Ethics Commission that earlier this year fined Gordon Fox. The settlement between Fox and the Ethics Commission was signed at the end of January. This was Fox’s second violation of ethics statutes.
Fox’s Office and Home Raided – First Time State House Raided
As GoLocal reported, “On Friday (March 21, 2014), a contingent of dozens of State Police officers, as well as Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service officers swept into the iconic Rhode Island Capitol to raid files of the Speaker of the House - Gordon Fox.
It was the first ever State House raid.
"I've been around 27 years. We've arrested people at the State House, but I can't remember something like this before," said Rhode Island State Police Colonel Steve O’Donnell.
State Librarian Tom Evans, who has been working at the State House for 26 years, affirmed, “State policemen have only been in the State House to interview for investigations and such in the past, not to raid an office.”
Information Not Released by PEDP
According to the new Counsel to the PEDP, Patrick Rogers – the former Chief of Staff to Governor Lincoln Chafee – the agency would not turn over information relating to client/attorney relationship or personal information.
Rogers, a partner at the law firm Hinckley Allen was retained in April to represent PEDP in the ongoing federal review. Teverow continues to do work for PEDP.
GoLocalProv attempted to reach the U.S. Attorney’s Office late on Friday afternoon for comment, but were unable to reach public affairs staff.
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