APNewsBreak: DOJ source says no record that Pa. House candidate got OK to serve as reference

Doubts surround Pa. candidate’s business reference

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A U.S. Justice Department source says the agency has no record that a Pennsylvania congressional candidate received permission to serve as a personal reference for a businessman seeking a state casino license.

Marino is a former federal prosecutor running as a Republican for the House. He told a radio interviewer in April that his superiors gave him permission to serve as a reference on Louis DeNaples’ 2006 gaming application.

The department source tells The Associated Press there is no record that Marino got the permission. The source spoke on condition of anonymity to freely discuss the case.

The campaign has said he received written permission, but Marino has refused to produce the document. He said in a statement Friday that he is not authorized to release “documents related to my service as United States Attorney.”

A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment.

Yost reported from Washington.