Ed Rendell once investigated by state police, book claims

rendell-quiet-don-book1 Ed Rendell, The Quiet Don. Credit: Wiki Commons, Penguin Group.

An upcoming book claims Pennsylvania State Police investigated former governor Ed Rendell for suspicion of rigging casino-license awards, but did failed to find proof, according to a report from the Associated Press

The book, slated for an Oct. 1 release, claims police suspected Rendell pulled strings so licenses would be awarded to businessmen with political and mob ties, the AP reported.

“But the probe failed to lead to criminal charges against anyone in the administration or on the state gambling board, and prosecutors blamed the state Supreme Court for thwarting the investigation, according to ‘The Quiet Don,’ a forthcoming book by Matt Birkbeck that also serves as the first full-length biography of reclusive northeastern Pennsylvania mob boss Russell Bufalino,” according to the AP story.

The AP claims it could not reach Rendell for comment, but that he has long-denied any wrongdoing.