WEST NEW YORK – An agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation was among those who attended the West New York Board of Education meeting on Wednesday night, city officials confirmed, although the reason for the visit is not clear.
The FBI agent sat in the audience during the meeting and several board members introduced themselves to him before he left.
Although the city would not officially speculate on the incident, insiders think the FBI might have been receiving a number of anonymous tipster and may have wanted to come to see what actually goes on at a meeting.
This also comes two weeks prior to a critical board election and someone, insiders believe, may have wanted to raise suspicion in voters’ minds about the current board.
The board has been under a microscope after the state Department of Education released a scathing report last year, suggesting that some allegations of political inference by Mayor Felix Roque should be investigated by the state Attorney General’s office.
“Nobody really knows why the FBI came,” said Freeholder Jose Munoz, who is a critic of the current administration and is among those who successfully pushed to get an elected board. The district will have two elections, one later this month and another in April that will determine the eventual make up of the board.
Both Munoz and WNY Commissioner Count Wiley are backing candidates who are not considered in line with Mayor Roque, who previously appointed members to the board.
A state report said there was suspicion of political interference from Roque on the board, including favoritism in hiring and promotions and political retribution against those perceived to be aligned with political opponents. The report is based on unsubstantiated claims made by employees during a site visit by representatives from the state.
A friendly visit?
