The Pennsylvania attorney general is investigating the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, and a number of former employees spent several hours in front of a Pittsburgh-based grand jury earlier this year, discussing political influence inside the commission.

Among those questioned by the grand jury is the turnpike's former second-in-command, Kevin Longenbach, who was forced out of his position two years ago.

The investigation first surfaced in September when the Morning Call of Allentown quoted a commission source saying he had been questioned regarding turnpike contracts. Yesterday, the commission and the FBI both strenuously denied reports of an FBI "raid" published by Toll Roads News, an Internet site based in Frederick, Md.

The initial report of a raid was today softened to reflect a visit by an FBI agent. Toll Roads News also quoted a construction supervisor for a turnpike widening project outside Philadelphia saying he had been questioned by the FBI about cost overruns and the delivery of defective concrete products.

The Pittsburgh grand jury, being overseen by Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett, is looking into possible links between political donations and turnpike contracts.

As part of the grand jury probe, investigators this year began looking into allegations in a civil lawsuit by former turnpike Labor Relations Manager Donald Kovac.

In federal court pleadings, Mr. Kovac alleged that he was terminated by the commission last year after he refused to reinstate a politically connected toll booth worker who had been accused of physically assaulting a motorist.

The complaint says that at the turnpike "the unwritten rule was that PTC union employees who had favored political connections would be afforded favorable treatment at the second step of the grievance procedure -- favorable treatment that was not available to other employees."

The complaint also declares that when members of Teamster Local 250, which represents turnpike employees in the western half of the state, ceased donating money to the Philadelphia Democratic Committee, Mr. Kovac was instructed by Melvin Shelton, a turnpike manager, "to deny all grievances brought on behalf of employees represented by Local 250."

Mr. Kovac's complaint also says he told Turnpike Executive Director Joseph Brimmeier that he believed Mr. Shelton, in fact, did little work for the commission "but rather, worked to further the interests of Congressman (Robert) Brady, the Philadelphia Democratic Committee and Teamsters Local No. 77."

The commission is contesting those allegations and Mr. Kovac's civil case remains pending.

Neither he nor Mr. Longenbach was reachable today.

Turnpike spokesman Carl DeFebo today said the commission would be issuing a detailed response about possible investigations into the turnpike operations.

He indicated that allegations of cost overruns and contract irregularities in a paving project outside Philadelphia had prompted the commission to request the FBI to look into the matter.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.