FBI searches Congressman Bob Brady’s emails in probe of $90K paid to rival

The FBI has reviewed emails from an AOL account of Philadelphia Congressman Bob Brady after a federal magistrate granted a search warrant to investigators.

The search involves allegations Brady paid his 2012 Democratic primary opponent, Jimmie Moore, $90,000 from his campaign fund to drop his challenge for Brady’s seat.

Four have been charged in the investigation; two have pleaded guilty, including Moore.

Moore, who has admitted violating campaign finance laws, is prepared to testify he met with Brady and struck a deal for his departure in return for the $90,000 to retire Moore’s campaign debt.

Brady has not been charged, and he has said he’s done nothing wrong.

His attorney, James Eisenhower, said Moore decided to drop out on his own, and that Brady agreed to pay Moore’s campaign for legitimate campaign services and materials, including a poll Moore conducted.

Brady’s emails show the poll purchase was a sham to disguise the payment made for Moore’s withdrawal, according to the FBI application for a search warrant.

Two political consultants who work for Brady, Ken Smukler and Donald “D.A.” Jones, also are charged with conspiring to conceal the payments.

The FBI application said investigators became interested in emails from Brady’s account after a consensual search of Smukler’s computer and email accounts