by KYW's Tony Romeo
Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell is strongly defending the state's gambling control agency after a Pittsburgh newspaper reported on Wednesday that Pennsylvania attorney general Tom Corbett is now investigating the panel.
A spokesman for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board says the panel is cooperating with the attorney general’s requests but won’t comment on the specifics of the probe.
The Tribune-Review, however, says the grand jury investigation is focusing on the board and its decision to award licenses -- one for a Poconos casino and the other to Don Barden for Pittsburgh’s casino.
Ironically, Rendell points to the Pittsburgh license as proof that cynics were wrong:
“...all the folks who said, 'Oh, the politically connected are going to get these licenses.' And everyone knew that that meant that the Harrah’s Forrest City Ratner application in Pittsburgh was 'wired' [assured to get approval]."
But although the license went to Barden instead, he was ultimately unable to finance the Pittsburgh facility.
Rendell, however, insists he’s confident that the gambling board’s license decisions were based on the quality of the applications.
(File photo)
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