The FBI and the U.S. Labor Department are investigating Andy Stern, the former president of the Service Employees International Union, as part of a corruption probe, according to two union officials who said they were interviewed by federal agents.
The officials, who asked not to be identified because the investigation is still ongoing, said they spoke with federal agents during the summer about a $175,000 book contract Stern landed with Simon & Schuster in 2006. The SEIU helped to promote Stern’s book, "A Country That Works" and bought thousands of copies of the book.
The agents also asked questions about Stern’s role in approving the salary of Alejandro Stephens, a SEIU leader in California who allegedly performed no work, according to the union officials.