Fitzgerald fires back at claims he misused county vehicle

PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner accused County Executive Rich Fitzgerald at a press conference Thursday of misusing his county vehicle.

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According to Wagner, Fitzgerald improperly used his taxpayer-provided vehicle for personal and political use.

“My office has identified at least 100 instances in which Fitzgerald submitted documents claiming to be on official county business, but in fact, was charging taxpayers for his personal and political use,” Wagner said.

Wagner said the allegations stemmed from an audit conducted by her office on county vehicles. She is calling for Fitzgerald to repay thousands of dollars.

Wagner estimated it has cost taxpayers more than $13,000 and she said she found nearly 20,000 miles on Fitzgerald’s car unaccounted for.

"These findings are deeply troubling. As the fiscal watchdog for the taxpayers of Allegheny County, it is my obligation under state law to immediately report the wrongdoing and recover these funds," Wagner said in a release.

Later Thursday, Fitzgerald denied these allegations to Channel 11's Rick Earle. He called the audit political and denied any abuse.

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“I’m out working all the time. Everyone who knows my work ethic these past three years knows I am out there until 9 or 10 at night working on behalf of this county. And I’ll continue to do that,” Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald said he’s looking out for ways to save taxpayer money.

According to Fitzgerald, he often takes his own car and doesn’t use a bodyguard. He said that saves the taxpayers money.

“This is silly, but that’s the way she operates. I actually wish she would go to work. Talk about a misuse of county funds,” Fitzgerald said.

Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office Spokesman Mike Manko released the following statement: “Our office received a letter from the controller that was also sent to the United States Attorney’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office and the State Ethics Commission regarding the possible misuse of a county vehicle by County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.

“Our office reviewed the matter and determined that the claimed under-reporting involving the vehicle does not rise to the level of criminal conduct and we will defer any findings on this matter to the Ethics Commission.”