The investigation into Maryland state Senator Ulysses Currie (D) is heating up. A grand jury has issued a subpoena to the Maryland Department of Legislative Services for all documents pertaining to Currie. The investigation centers on Currie's outside consulting relationship with Shoppers Food Warehouse and Currie's failure to report that relationship, despite presiding over legislation that concerned the company.

This appears to be the crux of the conflict of interest question:

The state has pledged $1.8 million to West Baltimore's Mondawmin Mall, where a Shoppers Food store opened in November. That money would go to the mall's owner, General Growth Properties, for renovation of the property and has not been appropriated, Glenn-Hood said.


A spokeswoman for the Washington Metro said yesterday that Currie attended three meetings in early 2006 during which subway officials, Prince George's County officials and representatives of Shoppers Foods discussed the possible commercial development of 8 acres near the West Hyattsville Metro station.


"We did not have knowledge that he was apparently affiliated with the grocery chain," said Lisa Farbstein, the spokeswoman. "We thought he was there as an interested proponent of economic development for the region."