As federal officials widen the scope of their investigation into a prominent state senator, scouring his office and committee files at the Maryland State House on Monday, the political reach of Lanham-based Shoppers Food and Pharmacy is coming into view.
Maryland’s Department of Legislative Services was served with a “broad” subpoena Monday, demanding all documents relating to Sen. Ulysses Currie’s legislative activities, including notes, appointment books, address books, business cards and computers, be turned over, agency director Karl Aro said.
The request for documents comes days after Currie’s home and the Prince George’s headquarters of Shoppers Food and Pharmacy were searched by FBI agents. Currie and the FBI have declined to comment on the investigation.
But SuperValu, Shoppers’ parent company, has said Currie was working as a consultant for the chain. And according to campaign finance disclosures, Currie has received more funding — $7,500 — from SuperValu than any other elected official in the state.
The second-biggest recipient, Gov. Martin O’Malley, has accepted $3,500 from SuperValusince 2006, $3,000 of which was donated in one block in July 2007, records show.
“The governor is proud to have support of many corporations and individuals throughout the state and has nothing to add to this one in particular,” O’Malley spokesman Shaun Adamec said.
Ryan O’Donnell, who heads Common Cause Maryland, a group advocating election reform, said it makes sense for O’Malley to receive such contributions as the top dog in state politics. But “when corporate entities donate to a political cause, it creates the perception of undue influence,” O’Donnell said.
Most of the remaining Maryland politicians to receive cash from SuperValu or directly from Shoppers are from Prince George’s County, including Senate President Thomas Mike Miller.
Virginia campaign finance records show that despite Shoppers having several stores in Northern Virginia, it hasn’t donated to any political campaigns there. Instead, its cash support in the commonwealth has been focused on Virginia Beach, where SuperValu subsidiary Farm Fresh has its headquarters.
Both Farm Fresh and Shoppers were acquired by SuperValu in 1999 as part of a $1.5 billion deal for Richfood Holdings that helped propel SuperValu to one of the largest food distributors in the country.
Examiner Staff Writer Jamie Malarkey contributed to this report.
