PROVIDENCE − The U.S. Department of Justice and Office of Inspector General are investigating the circumstances around the shutdown of the westbound span of the Washington Bridge , and, more specifically, an “allegation that false claims for payment for services and/or false statements in support of such payments have been submitted to the U.S. government.”
The federal agencies are “seeking documents and records related to the Washington Bridge,” Olivia DaRocha, a spokeswoman for Gov. Dan McKee, wrote in an email Friday evening.
“This is not unexpected, and the governor welcomes the review,” she said. “The governor has instructed the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to fully cooperate. As you know, the governor has directed his Department of Administration to hire an independent, third-party expert to review this matter as well.”
The governor’s office subsequently made public a document demand letter to the DOT from the U.S. Attorney’s office that said:
“The investigation concerns the allegation that false claims for payment for services and/or false statements in support of such payments have been submitted to the U.S. government.”