The U.S. Commerce Department inspector general is reportedly close to deciding whether to grant a congressional request for an investigation into "rule-making" by the New England's federal fisheries regulators.
In a letter dated Aug. 17, Congressmen John Tierney and Barney Frank petitioned IG Todd Zinser to open a second investigation.
In June 2009, Zinser began a landmark investigation into law enforcement excesses, vindictive motives and questionable judgment that uncovered scandalous miscarriages of justice leading to cabinet-level apologies last May to 11 individuals and businesses, and reparations totaling more than $600,000.
The diplomatically worded Tierney-Frank letter spoke of a "high degree of mistrust" between NOAA Fisheries and its regional management council and the fishing industry — and followed a more detailed and blunt request for the investigation by New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang.
Read the complete article from The Gloucester Times' staff writer Richard Gaines