FBI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Timothy Waters provided the following statement after the execution of search warrants at Detroit City Hall and several other Metro Detroit locations this morning.

Earlier today, special agents and task force officers from the public corruption task force executed search warrants at Detroit City Hall and several other locations across Metro Detroit. The warrants were conducted as part of an ongoing public corruption investigation. As many of you know, the FBI is the primary federal agency responsible for investigating allegations of public corruption.

As such, any time an allegation of corruption is brought to our attention, we will collect all available facts and evidence. Once collected, it is our job to ensure they are reviewed in a thorough and impartial manner. The evidence will then be presented to the U.S. Attorney’s Office which will ultimately decide whether or not to prosecute.

While the FBI recognizes the public’s right to know what we are doing on its behalf, we have a responsibility to protect the integrity of our investigations. As importantly, we have a responsibility to protect the rights of individuals who may not have been charged with any crimes. If charges are ultimately filed, the substance of our investigation will become a matter of public record. Until that time, we will not be providing any additional information on today’s law enforcement activities.

Public corruption is the FBI’s top criminal investigative priority. Anyone with information relevant to this or any other public corruption matter is encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tips may also be submitted at tips.fbi.gov.