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Winburn Responds To FBI Seizing Boxes From His Office

Howard Wilkinson
/
WVXU
City Councilman Charlie Winburn

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports several boxes from Cincinnati Council Member Charlie Winburn's City Hall office are now in the hands of the FBI.

The newspaper said the boxes were seized after a Winburn staffer moved them to the basement of the building last week.  
Winburn responded by reading a prepared statement during Thursday's City Council meeting.

"I have the utmost confidence in my staff and I am committed to complete transparency and accountability as I personally seek to get to the bottom of everything that has happened," Winburn said.

Winburn said the boxes were mostly filled with old newspapers and what he called "desk clutter."

He suggested politics is behind the seizure and the call to the FBI.  

"No one understands in my office why a simple call could not have been made to me or my staff by the City Solicitor," Winburn said. "Rather than impose on the time of the taxpayers and the Cincinnati Police Department to take possession of the boxes."

The Enquirer has previously reported federal agents were reviewing spending practices at the Metropolitan Sewer District. Some of that spending was directed toward two people associated with Council Member Winburn.  

To date, the FBI has never confirmed such an investigation.

Jay Hanselman brings more than 10 years experience as a news anchor and reporter to 91.7 WVXU. He came to WVXU from WNKU, where he hosted the local broadcast of All Things Considered. Hanselman has been recognized for his reporting by the Kentucky AP Broadcasters Association, the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists, and the Ohio AP Broadcasters.