Law enforcement officials following the case involving a top Republican's eavesdropping on a conference call between high-ranking Virginia Democrats are now considering a full grand jury investigation into the matter.
Ed Matricardi, the executive director of the Virginia Republican Party, listened in on a conference call March 22 between 30 Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Mark R. Warner.
No charges have been filed against Matricardi, who claims that no laws were broken.
Suggestions that a Democratic legislator provided Matricardi with the necessary information to listen in on the call have prompted investigators to begin interviewing each of the 30 Democrats who participated in the conference call.
Virginia law states that unauthorized eavesdropping on a telephone conversation is punishable by up to five years in prison or 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine. If permission to listen is granted by one of the parties in the conversation, then it would not qualify as a criminal offense.
Bush declares Virginia counties disaster areas
Flooding occuring March 18 led President Bush to declare eight Southwest Virginia counties major disaster areas yesterday, qualifying area residents for federal assistance.
The floods resulted in one death, while causing an estimated $55.7 million worth of total damage to over 1,000 homes and roads in the area.
The counties Bush classified as disaster areas include Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington and Wise, with the brunt of the damage affecting Lee, Scott and Wise counties.
- Compiled by Paul Quinlan
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