FBI agents searching Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price’s house on Monday found more than $100,000 in cash, Price’s attorney confirmed Wednesday.
The money was located in a safe inside the home, attorney Billy Ravkind said.
“There is an absolute explanation for it,” Ravkind said. “I think we can explain every penny of it.”
He declined to reveal the exact amount but said it was at least $100,000.
He would not offer any other details but did say he has hired a team of auditors to comb through Price’s finances.
“We are working very closely with accounting people to tell me what he got and where it came from and where it went,” Ravkind said.
Asked if he didn’t think people would ask why Price had such a large amount of cash, Ravkind said, “Cash always raises a lot of questions.”
"I don't want to start talking,” he said. “If we're going to say it, we're going to have it substantiated.”
Reached outside his office, Price referred questions about the cash to his attorney but said he doesn't believe it looks suspicious.
He declined to say where the money came from but hinted it was simply savings from his county salary.
"I've been working here 26 years," Price said. "I'm paid $100,000-plus."
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County records shows he earns $126,454 as commissioner.
Ravkind also said accountants would review the records of Kwanzaafest, a yearly festival Price founded, and also his property and cars.
“I would say I'm following everything that I'm hearing,” he said.
NBC DFW reported on Tuesday that Kwanzaafest's 2009 tax return did not explain where $930,000 of the $1 million it raised went.
FBI agents raided Price’s home and office on Monday along with the home of his executive assistant and the office of his political consultant.
The FBI has declined to comment on the investigation and court records in the case remain sealed.
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