By Briana Vannozzi
Correspondent
Appointed just over two years ago, former FBI Special Agent Thomas Raftery built his career on investigating and rooting out corruption and fraud both stateside and in Afghanistan. His position within the Delaware River Port Authority to do the same has been tumultuous at best.
In his resignation letter, obtained by NJTV News, Raftery says it’s been clear the Authority never wanted or intended to support an independent inspector general.
“The authority wanted the public appearance of independent oversight without allowing it to occur,” he writes.
“He had said on several occasions to me and my chief counsel and other members of the audit committee that he was facing struggles and we had asked for specifics and that was something we were never able to get a grip on from him,” said Eugene DePasquale, Pennsylvania auditor general and DRPA board member.
The Pennsylvania auditor general, who chairs the audit committee at the DRPA and oversees Raftery’s position, said he was disappointed by the resignation, which among other things claims the agency “fostered an environment that makes it difficult if not impossible, for OIG to obtain the necessary information and/or documents from staff in order to perform effective audits.” And that “certain board members have attempted to influence the content of OIG reports.”
When asked if he was finding and rooting out what he was put in the position to do, DePasquale said, “I thought he was doing some good work for the agency, there’s no question.”
But DePasquale also contends Raftery never used the Pennsylvania office as a resource when facing those struggles. He failed to provide names or dates or instances.
“Made it very clear if we knew of specifics we would work to remedy them but we needed to know what the specifics were,” DePasquale said.
We reached Raftery by phone. He declined to comment on the resignation letter or the circumstances surrounding it. But when asked if he thought that legislative reform would be passed and put an end to the corruption this authority has become known for, he simply said, “It’s never gonna happen.”
“The real reason they stopped doing the projects is that they ran out of money. It’s my understanding that they had a half a billion dollars. It’s gone,” said Sen. Joe Pennacchio.
State Sen. Pennacchio proposed legislation last spring to prohibit spending within the Authority and make it subject to open public records. Pennsylvania is moving forward with passing its side of the bill.
“Why is it that Pennsylvania has their act together and they’re moving along with this legislation and we’re not?” asked Pennacchio. “Good question. I can introduce the legislation but it’s not within my power to post it or to have it heard is it?”
“I’ve told the senator I’m more than willing to work with him to ensure that we codify the issues that need to be fixed,” said Senate President Steve Sweeney.
Sweeney points out reforms have already begun. But questions have been raised about the Senate president’s ties to DRPA, where his brother serves as the commissioner.
“Obviously if we can make it better, we will,” Sweeney said.
The DRPA will conduct a nationwide search to fill the position once Raftery leaves mid October.