Subpoenas Issued in Union Election Probe

A House subcommittee investigating the overturned 1996 Teamsters election subpoenaed the union, its president’s campaign organization, the Democratic National Committee and two political vendors. The subpoenas were necessary because several of the panel’s requests for information were rebuffed or rejected because of purported contractual restrictions, said Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-Mich.). Democrats denounced Hoekstra’s investigation, which they characterized as “taxpayer-financed muckraking.” The election, underwritten with $20 million in federal funds, was voided, and the incumbent, Ron Carey, was barred from a rerun after a scheme was uncovered that had used union funds to bolster his campaign. Carey faces expulsion from the union, and three of his former campaign aides have pleaded guilty to the scheme. A federal grand jury in New York is weighing evidence against other labor officials and people who helped Carey. In addition to the Teamsters, Carey’s campaign organization and the DNC, the panel issued subpoenas to the November Group, the direct-mail organization operated by Martin Davis, a mastermind of the scheme; and Peter D. Hart Research Associates, a polling firm that performed some work for the Teamsters.