Ex-Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey Probe Focuses On No-Bid Contracts

PITTSBURGH, PA — A search warrant unsealed Monday involving a probe into former Mayor Ed Gainey's administration include allegations that the city improperly handed out no-bid contracts and gave grants to groups aligned with Gainey.

The search warrant includes information provided to investigators by current city Councilman Anthony Coghill, former Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith and former city council solicitor Daniel Friedson.

The warrant is part of an ongoing, months-long investigation into Gainey and his staff being conducted by Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala. No criminal charges have been filed in connection with with the probe.

The search warrant, issued in March, enabled Zappala's office to collect numerous documents from the city. The warrant was issued two months after Gainey left office after serving a single term as the city's first Black mayor.

According to the warrant, Friedson told investigators that no-bid contracts award by the city doubled from 10 percent to 20 percent under Gainey's administration.

Investigators stated in the warrant that Coghill raised concerns about the city’s Stop The Violence fund, which distributes about $10 million in grants annually to community organizations. Coghill stated that in Gainey's administration, some organizations would receive more money than they applied for and then did not provide the city with details on how the money was being used.

“Coghill believed this to be a slush fund for Mayor Gainey,” the warrant stated.

Additional areas being investigated include whether the city gave the proper information during bond issuances and overestimating certain city revenues.