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Manhattan DA Questions FDNY In Deutsche Probe

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Sep 18, 2007 6:47 pm US/Eastern

Manhattan DA Questions FDNY In Deutsche Probe

City Hires Expensive Lawyer To Help Craft Defense

NEW YORK (CBS) ― Sources tell CBS 2 HD that 10 firefighters have already been questioned by the Manhattan District Attorney's office in the investigation into the deadly fire at the former Deutsche Bank building near ground zero.

District Attorney Robert Morgenthau is looking into the conditions that led to the deaths of two firefighters.

Subpoenas issued to the FDNY and the Buildings Department in the aftermath of the Deutsche Bank fire demand so much information the city has hired $600-an hour criminal lawyer Gary Naftalis to help craft its defense.

"This city realizes there could be significant criminal liability and as we've said all along the fire department can't be trusted to investigate itself," Uniformed Firefighters Association President Stephen Cassidy said.

Cassidy says the criminal probe of the fire, in which two firefighters died, goes to the highest levels of the fire department.

This as CBS 2 HD has learned that 10 firefighters -- one an officer -- have already spoken to the Manhattan DA's office about the fire and the conditions that led to the deaths of Firemen Robert Beddia and Joseph Graffagnino.

Attorney Steven Rabinowitz represents the three officers relieved of their commands after the fire.

"It's very unusual for the city to retain outside counsel at all and particularly outside criminal counsel so they must have some concerns that this could reach high up," Rabinowitz said.

A spokeswoman for the Corporation Counsel's office said there were "numerous" reasons for hiring a private attorney to represent the city, but she refused to disclose what they were.

She also refused to disclose how much the city spends on outside lawyers.




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© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.