Miami-based U.S. Rep. David Rivera is being investigated over possible tax evasion, confirmed an attorney whose client is being interviewed by federal authorities to the Associated Press.
The FBI and IRS are reportedly looking into whether or not the freshman congressman failed to pay taxes on a long-undisclosed contract he signed to manage a campaign to expand gambling in Miami-Dade County.
"The [Associate Press] story is based on unsubstantiated speculation regarding the same old unsubstantiated allegations from last year's campaign," read a statement issued by Rivera's office.
"The fact is Congressman Rivera has not been contacted by the FBI or IRS on any matter whatsoever."
But an attorney for a lawyer who helped draw up the contract -- made in 2006 between the Magic City Casino and a marketing company later run by a close family friend of Rivera and later his mother -- says her client and at least five others are being interviewed as witnesses.
Though he was titled as the lead political consultant on the project, the congressman has claimed he was not paid for his work.
But after being elected in November, Rivera admitted to receiving $132,000 in "loans" from the marketing firm that were previously undisclosed, according to a Miami Herald report.
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The income was first noted when Rivera submitted revised federal financial disclosure forms before taking office in January, according to the paper.
"He's got to be worried about investigations," said Sweetwater mayor Manny Marono, who is friendly with Rivera. "Whether you did something wrong or not, investigations are not pretty."
Federal officials have declined to comment on the case.
