By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Erie County Executive Joel Giambra says he will cooperate fully with a special Grand Jury being empanelled to investigate alleged crimes at a county highway facility. The Grand Jury will take a look at a broad range of issues surrounding the misuse of county equipment at the Aurora Highway Barn two year ago.
District Attorney Frank Clark has also asked for a probe into the timeline of events leading to the investigation. Some have alleged a cover-up by the Giambra Administration. Giambra says it's nothing more than "silly season nonsense."
"It's a couple six weeks weeks before the election, and all these individuals who are coming forward now, saying they notified people, it's unadulterated nonsense," said Giambra. "I never received any formal complaint in writing that was signed by anybody, alleging criminal activities or improprieties.
"Were there rumors about stuff happening? Yeah. Were there pictures about county highway equipment in a lot that you couldn't even tell if it was a county lot or a private lot? Sure there was. But that was all being investigated."
Democratic County Executive Candidate Daniel Ward wonders about the viability of a Sheriff's Department investigation into the case. According to the Buffalo News, at issue is Sheriff Patrick Gallivan's purchase of land in Elma from an alleged target of the investigation.
The County Executive says he will testify before the special Grand Jury if asked. It's expected the Grand Jury's investigation could take several months to complete.